BB Desk
In view of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed on June 26, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in collaboration with the Mumbai Police organised a special Cyclothon on Sunday covering the stretch between Bandra to Juhu. The Cyclothon was held to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction and value of leading a healthy lifestyle as part of the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Pandharwada’ campaign.
More than 450 cyclists of various ages and genders enthusiastically participated in the rally that took off from Bandra Reclamation Bus Depot and concluded at the Juhu Beach. Mumbai Police Commissioner, Deven Bharti along with Joint Commissioner (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam and several other high ranking police officials attended the event.
Similar Cyclothons and Bike rallies were organised in various other cities of the country as part of a broader national campaign initiated by the NCB. In New Delhi, 1000+ cyclists participated in the rally that was flagged off from the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri by NCB Director General Anurag Garg, who himself cycled with the participants.
Speaking to the gathering, Garg said, “To create a country that is truly drug-free, the war against drugs must involve not only law enforcement but also families, young people, and institutions.” Olympian Sarita Mor, Delhi Police personnel, Brahma Kumaris, CAPFs, and several community groups were among those who participated in the Delhi rally.
The campaign gained significant traction in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and others. Over 1,500 cyclists participated in a spectacular 40-kilometer Bikeathon held in Chennai, whereas around 100 Motorcycle riders took part in the Ahmedabad rally that kicked off from the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar. Bengaluru and Guwahati witnessed remarkable assemblage with more than 500 and 550 participants respectively, while Kolkata had around 300 riders participating from banks and public institutions.
