Police Drug De-addiction Rehabilitation and Mental Health Care Centre (DDRC), Jammu will introduce a new skilling cum training centre for inmates to ensure their meaningful employment post recovery.

Besides, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mission Yuva and Skill India for provision of loans to those patients who have remained off drugs for six months or so is also in offing.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters Jammu Anna Sinha, while pointing out that the Centre has treated 18000 patients till date, has stated that the vision is to “make the Police DDRC a hub for 360 degrees rehabilitation process for addicts.”

“For this, we have developed a Skilling cum Training Centre for addicts which will give them vocational skills to get meaningfully employed, soon to be inaugurated. Drug De-addiction is as important as catching drug peddlers. Next in line is a Yoga cum Meditation Centre for building spiritual and mental resilience in patients. This will ensure Nasha Mukti reaches its rightful conclusion,” she asserts.

The Centre, SP Sinha- who is also in-charge DDRC Student Intern, informed also provided research internship for Post graduate students of Psychology and Criminology. 10 selected students from Delhi University and Jammu University undertook the internship.

“My visit to the De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre was insightful and educational. I learned about addiction, counselling, empathy, and rehabilitation. The experience improved my practical understanding of mental health and recovery,” shares Ayushi Jasrotia, a student of Psychology Department, University of Jammu, who interned at the Centre as a part of her research.

Another student of Psychology Department, University of Jammu, Mansha Mahajan, who too undertook research internship, described her experience at the Centre as “truly insightful and enriching”, adding that it (Centre) provided a safe, structured, and supportive environment that focused not only on overcoming substance dependence but also on the overall psychological and emotional well-being of the individuals.

“The staff were compassionate, approachable and dedicated towards helping the patients through their recovery journey. As a psychology student, the experience gave me an opportunity to understand addiction beyond textbooks and observe the importance of counselling, empathy, motivation, family support and relapse prevention in rehabilitation,” Mansha Mahajan stated.

She stated that interacting with the patients and learning from the professionals was a valuable experience that enhanced her practical understanding of addiction and strengthened her perspective towards mental health and rehabilitation.

“Overall, the experience was meaningful, educational, and personally enriching,” she asserted.

With regard to Centre’s current status in terms of facilities, SP Sinha shares that with 25 In-Patient Department (IPD) beds, it has a 12-hour OPD (Out-Patient Department) treating 500 persons per month. Centre is well-equipped with food and lodging facilities.

With the objective of further strengthening the DDRC Jammu in terms of infrastructure and other facilities, according to her, a skilling cum training centre for short term vocational training of staff. 

It will introduce a new skilling cum training centre offering short term courses i.e., plumbing, electrician, mobile repairing, basic computer courses, solar technician and AC or refrigerator repairing.

SP Sinha points out that the Centre has a digitisation record of 10500 patients admitted in it (DDRC) from time to time.

Focus, according to her, is also on recreational and educational activities for inmates.

Recently, Centre organised a debate competition between inmates, under the supervision of SP Headquarter Jammu and arranged motivational lectures on “Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan” at Jammu as well as Government Middle School Qasim Nagar during the anti-drug campaign.

The doctors of DDRC also delivered a lecture during Principals’ conference 2026-27 on prevention of drug abuse.

Ramban, Aug 18: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open to regulated two-way traffic on Tuesday, although movement was slow at several vulnerable stretches in Udhampur and Ramban districts.

Traffic authorities said vehicular movement remained slow at Dewal in Udhampur district, where traffic is being regulated through an approximately 40-metre-long damaged, uneven and undulating single-lane stretch. 

Similar restrictions continued on the Maroog-KishtwariPather stretch in Ramban district, where vehicles were negotiating a single-lane portion amid ongoing highway construction and road improvement works.
Meanwhile, restoration work on the Srinagar-bound road tube at Dhramthal (Samroli) in Udhampur district was underway after a massive landslide struck the stretch on Sunday evening, blocking the up tube.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed men and machinery to clear the accumulated debris. 
Officials said the large debris slide was likely to take several days to remove completely.
To facilitate traffic movement during the restoration work, inter-lane ramps have been carved out at both ends of the affected stretch, allowing vehicles to bypass the slide zone through a temporary arrangement.

SSP Traffic National Highway Raja Adil Hameed said restoration work to clear the Srinagar-bound road tube at Dhramthal was in progress.
Officials said restoration of the up tube is expected to take at least four to five days.
On Monday, at the request of the Traffic Authorities, the NHAI widened and smoothened the inter-lane ramps to facilitate the movement of commuters, particularly heavy trailers and bulkers, across the affected stretch.

Under the temporary arrangement, up- and down-bound traffic is being regulated through the available carriageways to ensure continued movement along the highway.
Officials said the down tube in the vicinity has also been reduced to a single lane at two to three locations due to erosion caused by recent rains, making traffic regulation necessary at the vulnerable points.
Despite the restrictions, hundreds of vehicles crossed the Udhampur-Banihal sector during the day. 
Traffic personnel remained deployed at critical locations to regulate movement and prevent congestion.

At Dewal, the damaged and uneven single-lane stretch, coupled with ongoing highway construction activity, resulted in intermittent congestion. 
The movement of heavy vehicles was particularly slow.
A similar situation prevailed between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban, where vehicles continued to pass through the restricted single-lane stretch amid construction activity and damaged road conditions.

Traffic authorities advised commuters to check the latest status of the highway before undertaking their journey. 
Passenger vehicles and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) operators have been particularly advised to travel between Ramban and Banihal during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary night journeys in view of the risk of shooting stones, landslides and other weather-related hazards.
Motorists have been urged to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking, wrong-lane driving and unnecessary stoppages at vulnerable locations, with authorities warning that such violations could further aggravate congestion on already restricted stretches.

Truck operators transporting fresh and perishable commodities and livestock have been advised to strictly adhere to prescribed loading norms. 
Heavy vehicle operators have also been directed to avoid overloading, ensure proper vehicle fitness and carry sufficient fuel in anticipation of delays caused by road or weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Jammu said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, passenger LMVs, private cars and heavy vehicles and goods carriers would continue to be permitted to ply on the highway in both directions.
Authorities, however, cautioned that traffic movement would remain strictly subject to prevailing weather and road conditions and the clearance of any fresh obstructions along the highway.

Travellers have been advised to remain in contact with the Traffic Control Units at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu and follow official traffic advisories before commencing their journey and while travelling on the highway.

Jammu, Aug 18: A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against operational commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for his involvement in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.

The non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued last month against absconding accused Mohammad Yaqoob, a designated terrorist of Pakistani origin who is also known by the aliases Abu Sumama, Sumama Ilyas and Waris Ali, the officials said, citing an order issued by the NIA court.

Yaqoob is the second top LeT terrorist against whom the NIA court in Jammu has issued an NBW since July 8.

Earlier, the special NIA court had issued NBW against Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of the proscribed terror outfit, in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack case.

Yaqoob was among 23 individuals designated as terrorists by the Union Home Ministry on July 4. He operates as an LeT operational commander based in Islamabad (Chatta Bakhtawar) and also coordinates financial and logistical support for other LeT cadres active in Kashmir to carry out terrorist activities in India.

According to the court order dated July 16, the officials said the warrant was sought by the NIA against Yaqoob, who is listed as a designated terrorist under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in connection with an ongoing investigation in a case registered under UAPA, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act at a police station in Srinagar.

The case stems from the arrest of a motorcyclist Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat at Gujar Tent, Pandach and recovery of a Chinese grenade and 15 live rounds early this year.

Bhat’s arrest led to the busting of a major terror network spread across different states of the country and arrest of four more terrorists including two Pakistani nationals — Abdullah Rajput alias Kamran Ahmed and Khubaib alias Usman Jatt.

The NIA told the court that investigation had revealed the involvement of Pakistan-based handler Mohammad Yaqoob, based on material collected and disclosures made by the arrested terrorists.

The agency said Yaqoob had provided directions to the arrested accused to carry out terrorist activities in the Valley, including attacks on security forces and civilians.

After examining the application and record, the court observed that the accused was at large and that the investigating agency had been unable to secure his attendance through ordinary means, the officials said.

The court accordingly allowed the application and issued a general non-bailable warrant of arrest, forwarding it to the Deputy Inspector General, NIA Jammu for execution in accordance with law, they added.