Collector C. Dinesh Kumar along with the Superintendent of Police G.S. Anitha supervising the incineration of gutkha in Krishnagiri on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.
As many as 21 tonnes of gutkha were incinerated, led by Krishnagiri Collector C. Dinesh Kumar, marking the start of the drug-Free Tamil Nadu campaign launched by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday (August 11, 2026).The campaign, launched with the administration of a drug-free Tamil Nadu pledge to the public and officials, witnessed the Collector along with the Superintendent of Police G.S. Anitha supervising the destruction of several tonnes of seized gutkha at the Krishnagiri Municipality-owned incinerator.The Collector said that the district, being the transit zone of the inter-state borders between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, is under sustained surveillance.Vehicle checks are being carried out at 15 checkposts, which includes nine permanent and six temporary checkposts. The surveillance is being carried out jointly by the police, local body administrations including the Hosur Corporation, Krishnagiri Municipality, town and village panchayats.A 100-m radius within schools have been declared anti-tobacco zones and strict measures are undertaken to root out the circulation of tobacco in these zones, according to the Collector.Further, tobacco found in any form or type in stores in such zones will be penalised with fines of ₹25,000, ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh for the first, second and third offences, respectively. Three such shops have been sealed for repeating the offence thrice, he said.The Collector added that there is also awareness dissemination on the use of the ‘Drug Free TN’ app enabling the public to inform on drug use and circulation in their neighbourhoods. In two weeks, 600 kg of tobacco was seized. An SUV was intercepted and around 600 kg of gutkha was seized last week. Similarly, another 600 kg of gutkha was seized this week. The vigilance was upgraded to interception in buses and also surprise inspections at courier centres. “With the crackdown on contraband substance movement through vehicle checks gaining strength, smuggling is also being done through buses. We also have instructed courier centres to be vigilant and have asked to inform authorities regarding any suspicion. Published - August 11, 2026 09:11 pm IST
