The Ernakulam Rural police’s anti-drug campaign got a filmi touch on Sunday (October 5, 2025) as they chose to tread the path of entertainment to create awareness. The police arranged a film screening for the migrant population in and around Perumbavoor in the wake of frequent cases of narcotic seizures reported from the area.
The Bengali film Pao the Drugs was screened at EVM Theatre, Perumbavoor, before a packed audience of nearly 200 migrant workers, labour suppliers, and social workers. Directed by Zaman, the film explores the theme of drug abuse and its consequences.
The Sunday screening was organised as part of ‘Operation Punarjani’, an anti-drug initiative led by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) M. Hemalatha. The audience was invited to the free show through messages shared among the migrant community and associations in the plywood industry, which employs a large number of workers from other States.
“We deliberately chose to screen the film in Bengali because most of the migrant workers here understand the language. We knew that a lecture-based awareness session would not attract many attendees. The plan proved successful, with 200 people voluntarily attending. The screening was part of the Punarjani project’s effort to reach out to the public while also strengthening enforcement and preventive measures,” said Hardik Meena, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Perumbavoor. After the screening, the audience also took an anti-drug oath.
The outreach programme was organised in the wake of a recent incident in which an Assam native died of a heroin overdose in Perumbavoor.
Launched in July, the Punarjani project aims to prevent the circulation of drugs among migrant workers, provide medical and psychological support to drug addicts, organise awareness programmes, promote alternative lifestyles, conduct inspections, and encourage participation in sports.
Published – October 05, 2025 08:16 pm IST
