EAGLE is Telangana’s new weapon against drugs; CM asks schools, colleges to be vigilant

Hyderabad: Telangana anti-narcotics bureau has been renamed as EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), announced chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday, with its operation beginning from Thursday.

CM Revanth Reddy was speaking at Shilpakala Vedika on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025. Actors Ram Charan, Vijay Deverakonda and chief national coach for the national badminton team, P Gopichand and Telangana Film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju were also present at the function.

Why EAGLE?

The reason for transforming the bureau’s name to Eagle is to develop the department to protect more school and college children from getting addicted to drugs.

The life of youth is spoiled due to drugs, said CM Revanth. “After coming to power, the first instructions given to the bureau were to take severe action against those dealing with narcotics. As much as 68 per cent of the Indian population is youth, and they are being lured to drugs, which will harm their lives and also destroy their families,” he said.

“Youth in Punjab are addicted to ganja and drugs, we will not allow that in Telangana,” said CM Revanth.

What will EAGLE do?

- Check, detect and book the culprits who cultivate ganja in Telangana

- Identify illegal drug trafficking at the borders

- Teams of EAGLE will patrol the land of Telangana to detect ganja plantations

- Those responsible will be tried according to the law

Call for public participation

With students being the most vulnerable group, a call for public participation against this drug menace was given by CM Revanth.

Reddy said, “We cannot stand by and watch the youth fall victim to the drug menace. It is the social responsibility of all the members of society to come together to fight this.”

Partnership in drug eradication

The CM called all schools and colleges to become partners in the fight against drugs.

The schools and colleges must ensure that there are no anti-social activities and no use of drugs inside the premises. He said, “Schools and colleges have to take responsibility and check on the students regularly.”

Schools and colleges are apprised of the rising menace, and they must act on it.

“The anti-drugs movement must be a collective effort of society. Collective vigilance by all stakeholders will help to control and curb this menace in the State,” said CM Revanth.

Speaking about actor Vijay Deverakonda, who attended the event, CM Revanth said, “He has also come from humble surroundings and risen to this level for his hard work. Youth of Telangana must take him as an example of hard work and grow.”