Udupi, June 24: The QR code initiative launched by the Udupi district police in public places to curb the illegal sale of drugs and cigarettes has received a positive response from the public, with 193 reports received from anonymous citizens so far, informed Udupi Superintendent of Police (SP) Hariram Shankar.

He was speaking while presiding over the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ (Drug-Free India Campaign) organized by the Udupi police sub-division at the Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Hall on Tuesday.

Based on the reports generated through the QR codes, several cases have been registered, and many drug peddlers have been arrested. Additionally, rehabilitation has been provided to individuals in need. As a result of these strict measures, the open consumption of drugs in Udupi has significantly decreased, the SP noted. He cautioned that enemy nations are using drugs as a weapon to spread addiction among the youth, and stressed the need to create awareness.

Addressing the gathering, Psychiatrist Dr P V Bhandari stated that children in India often start falling prey to bad habits by the age of 13. Dr G S Chandrashekar, medical director of Adarsha Hospital, Udupi, observed that the educated are falling victim to drug addiction more than the uneducated, and noted that young girls are also increasingly getting attracted to these habits.

Urging the public to act fearlessly, SP Hariram Shankar reiterated that anyone can scan the QR code to inform the police about the sale and consumption of ganja or other drugs, and the identity of the informant will be kept strictly confidential. Students should bravely use these QR codes to save vulnerable individuals from falling into the drug racket. Prior to the stage programme, a campaign rally was flagged off in front of the Board High School in the city. Social worker Nithyananda Volakadu and Udupi DySP Belliyappa were present on the dais. Udupi town police inspector Mahesh Prasad welcomed the gathering, while Malpe circle inspector Ramachandra Nayak proposed the vote of thanks. Town station head constable Surendra compered the programme.

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