Cop runs for drug abuse awareness

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Chennai: Special sub-inspector M Samidoss, 58, of the special investigation team of crime branch CID, has begun a grueling 450-km run from Chennai to Coimbatore to spread awareness against drug abuse.
 
At his age, mo­st cops could be planning on how to make retirement years comfortable but with just a few months to go be­fore retirement, Sami­do­ss has embarked on this ‘mi­ssion against drug ab­use’.
 
“I have been very worried about the youth taking to drugs. We have been comi­ng across such cases in the department and besides, th­ere have been many sca­ry media reports on ruined ad­dicts. That’s why I have ta­ken up this run to spread aw­areness against drug ab­use”, said Samidoss, exp­l­a­ining his ‘mission’ that wo­uld keep him on the highway for about a month, distributing pamphlets on the evils of drug addiction.
 
Asked how he managed to keep fit even at this age, he quipped, “I run 5-10 km da­ily and on Sundays it would be 22 km. It’s become a ha­bit, a very healthy one”, said the cheerful cop at his Kattankulathur ‘camp’ Fri­day night.
 
“Samidoss has won many medals even in international police events. He is a role model as our youth can see how healthy he is even at this age”, said Prateep V. Ph­ilip, ADGP, crimes, who was present when the ‘run’ was flagged off by DGP Na­rendrapal Singh of CB-CID at Chennai on Wednesday.
 
Two police jeeps are following the ‘cop on the run’ through Tindivanam, Villupuram and Salem before the ‘reception’ at the police grounds in Coimbatore. Samidoss had joined the police force in 1982 and had been with the SIT since the Coimbatore serial blasts (1998). He lives in Coimbatore with family.