Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/DC)

Udupi, Sep 23: Over 3,000 students and enthusiasts including officials from police department participated in 5km marathon for a drug-free society organised by Udupi district police, working journalists association and Udupi press club here on Sunday September 23.

The marathon was held in association with Manipal University.

The marathon was flagged off by district superintendent of police Laxman Nimbargi, Manipal university vice-chancellor Dr H S Ballal and other dignitaries.

The participants passed through M Cops, Upendra Pai circle, Syndicate circle, Venugopala temple, MIT swimming pool, MIT, Kamath cafe, Tiger circle and the marathon got culminated at Manipal Edu building.

Dr H S Ballal addressing the gathering said, "The youth needs to understand the effects of drugs. It is a proud moment for us to see youngsters participate in large number in the marathon for a drug-free society. Such marathons and other awareness programmes by the Manipal institution will help for a better society."

SP Nimbargi said, "India is a country which has youth power. For the last two months we have been holding these awareness programmes in the district. Many believe that we can tackle drug menace by punishing the offenders. But such issues can be solved through awareness camps when the police system and the law cannot tackle it."

It was refreshing to see the SP, additional SP Kumarachandra, DySP Kumaraswamy, Belliyappa, Dinesh Kumar and other police officers take part in the marathon without uniforms.

Syndicate bank general manager H Bhasker Hande, deputy zonal manager B R Hiremutt, Udupi working journalists’ association president Ganesh Prasad Pandelu, press club convenor Nagaraj Rao, KMC professor Dr Vinod Nayak and others were present.