Mangaluru city police launch QR-based anonymous complaint portal to report drug abuse
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, June 27, 2025: To help students, parents, institutions, and others report drug consumption and sales, the Mangaluru City Police launched the QR-code-based anonymous reporting portal in Mangaluru on Thursday.
Speaking at the programme organised by the department to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said this can be used to report persons consuming drugs, peer pressure to consume drugs and sale and delivery of narcotics in one’s locality. “We will keep the information confidential and take action,” he said.
This QR code is part of the advisory booklet for Anti-Drug and Awareness Committees (ADAC) to be set up in educational institutions, which was released on the same day. “The QR code would be printed on our posters to be displayed in educational institutions shortly,” Mr. Reddy said.
“The QR code would be printed on our posters to be displayed in educational institutions shortly” said Sudheer Kumar Reddy Police Commissioner
Upon scanning the QR Code, a form from the city police opens, containing 14 questions with multiple answer options. The first question is what they are reporting about. It is followed by questions about the place of consumption or sale of drugs, name of the college or paying guest accommodation, additional information, how often it happens, name of the person involved, whether it is an individual or group, narcotic drugs involved, need of counselling support, friends or peers struggling with drug abuse, reason for reporting it, videos or photos related to the information, and would they be interested in being contacted back.
The booklet stated that police will track submissions 24X7. To maintain the confidentiality of the information, every submission will be assigned a code. The counselling and resources will be deployed within 48 hours. There will be no IP or device tracking. The data will be removed from the system after the issue is resolved, it stated.
Mr. Reddy said that an ADAC of about eight persons, including two faculty members, three student representatives, a college administration representative, a police personnel, and a psychologist/counsellor, will be formed in all the colleges.
Campus monitoring
In addition to conducting a drug awareness campaign, the ADAC will also monitor campuses and hostels for suspicious activity, provide confidential counselling to affected students, encourage anonymous reporting of drug abuse and peddling, and conduct anonymous surveys to assess awareness, drug use and risk zones. It will work with the educational institution and the health department in conducting periodic screening of random students for the use of narcotic drugs. The ADAC will submit regular reports to the college and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics), who will serve as the police nodal officer.
“The anti-drug cells operated in institutions earlier. We have brought in a new system [to prevent drug abuse on campuses]. Effectiveness of the new system will be reviewed after about six months,” Mr. Reddy said.