Officials of the Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) organised a rally and signature campaign against use of tobacco and its products on Sunday. The rally was organised from NTR Collectorate to Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium in connection with World No Tobacco Day.

EAGLE Head and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ake Ravi Krishna, Collector G. Lakshmisha, officers of National Tobacco Control Programme, National Health Mission, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), various government and private organisations, students, NSS Volunteers and NGOs participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ravi Krishna urged the youth not to get addicted to cigarettes, gutkha and other tobacco products, which can lead to health problems. “If anybody notices the sale of tobacco products or drugs, alert EAGLE Police by ‘1972’, the IGP said. The organisers distributed pamphlets and organised a signature campaign on the occasion of ‘World No Tobacco Day,’ Mr. Ravi Krishna said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lakshmisha said that many youngsters are addicted to smoking and subsequently to other products, which cause respiratory, heart and other ailments. “I request the public to join hands to make NTR a tobacco free and drug free district,” the Collector said.

EAGLE Superintendents of Police K. Nagesh Babu, T.T. Prabhakar Babu and G. Swaroopa Rani, DSPs K. Singaiah and T. Durga Prasad and representatives of various health organisations and NGOs also participated in the rally.