Kaithal police declare 208 villages drug-free

Aimed at making Kaithal a drug-free district, the Kaithal police have expedited the efforts and so far it has declared 208 out of 274 identified villages as drug-free villages. The Kaithal police have brought several youth to the mainstream after freeing them of drug addiction in almost a year.

Giving details, Kaithal Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajesh Kalia said the police personnel were making efforts to make the district drug-free. “The police personnel have been organising awareness campaigns to educate people about the ill-effects of drugs and also involve them in sports activities,” said the SP Kalia, adding that so far the Kaithal police had approached nearly 3 lakh people by organising nearly 2,600 programmes across the district.

Following the guidelines of the DGP, Haryana, Shatrujeet Kapur, a dedicated anti-drug awareness team was formed in October 2023 led by DSP Kuldeep Beniwal and comprising Sub-Inspector Karambir Singh, ASI Om Parkash, Head Constable Sunil Kumar, woman constable Ritu and home guard Shamsher Singh. The team has been visiting villages, conducting seminars, rallies, and public meetings to raise awareness among the community, particularly the youth, about the harmful effects of drugs.

“We have identified 274 villages of the district, of which so far, we have declared 208 villages drug-free,” said the SP.

The team members also organised 30 sports competitions, including wrestling, kabaddi, racing and volleyball, encouraging the youth to channel their energy into sports instead of drugs. “Police officers actively participate in these games with the local youth, promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. They also visit public places to spread awareness about government schemes for drug de-addiction treatment available at public hospitals, emphasizing that addiction is treatable with willpower and medical support,” said Kalia.

Kalia highlighted the adverse impacts of drug abuse on health, including weakened immunity and increased susceptibility to illness, which can often lead young people into crime to sustain their habits. “To engage the youth further, the police have appointed 25 SPOs as sports coaches who guide them in sports, yoga, and exercise daily. This approach is yielding positive results, with more youth now focused on fitness and health,” the SP maintained.

“The district police aim to achieve a drug-free Kaithal with the support of the community. Together, we can build a society free from the dangers of drugs,” said SP Rajesh Kalia.