Anti-drug Cyclothon Enters 18th Day; Massive Rally Held In Vijayawada
Sivanath lauded the joint initiative of the police and Sujana Foundation, saying the campaign aimed to safeguard the future of youth. Chowdary said drug addiction devastates families and generations
VIJAYAWADA: The NTR District Police’s anti-drug crusade gathered significant momentum on its 18th day with a massive rally and public meeting organised in the I Town police station limits.
The events were held under the leadership of city police commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu.
The Drugs Pai Dandayatra, launched on January 27 by home minister V. Anita, began from Gadda Bomma Centre and culminated at the Gandhi Municipal School grounds. The home minister, MP Kesineni Sivanath, West MLA Sujana Chowdary, and EAGLE IG Ake Ravi Krishna were present.
Anita said the 227-km cyclothon over 18 days had inspired youth and turned five women police personnel into “celebrities for a cause.” Awareness against drugs was steadily rising among the public, she said.
Sivanath lauded the joint initiative of the police and Sujana Foundation, saying the campaign aimed to safeguard the future of youth. Chowdary said drug addiction devastates families and generations. He urged parents to monitor behavioural changes in children and citizens to share information on ganja or narcotics with police.
Commissioner Rajasekhar described the yatra as a people’s movement born out of concern for children’s future and said it received overwhelming support, especially from women. Declaring a “war on drugs,” he said over 10,000 CCTV cameras, drones and advanced technology were being deployed in line with the state government’s vision of real-time alerts. The Sujana Foundation contributed Rs 30 lakh for purchasing 1,000 CCTV cameras.
The police have implemented 29 programmes, including checks at bus stands, lodges and transport hubs, arresting 2,700 ganja offenders and sending 109 persons in Vijayawada West to counselling. In one instance, an eight-year-old boy dialled 1972, leading to the arrest of four youths consuming ganja.
The campaign would conclude with a public meeting on March 1. Students took a pledge to stay away from narcotics. Senior officers and large numbers of students attended the event.