![SSP Benam Tosh interacting with players during the opening ceremony at Gura Salathia in Samba on Wednesday. SSP Benam Tosh interacting with players during the opening ceremony at Gura Salathia in Samba on Wednesday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Page12-2-7.jpg)
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SAMBA, Apr 26: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Benam Tosh declared open Cricket championship, organised by Samba Police under CAP at Gurah Salathia, here today.
The SSP Samba was accompanied by SP Surinder Choudhary, DySP Garu Ram Bhardwaj and SHO Tribhawan Khajuria.
A large number of people of Gurah Salathia including Sarpanch Jatinder Singh, renowned social activist Veer Pratap Singh, Jaggu Singh, Babbu Slathia and Ballu Slathia were present during the opening ceremony of the tournament.
The SSP also interacted with the players and wished them all the best on behalf of J&K Police.
A total of eight teams viz Garh Mandi-A, Garh Mandi-B, Udh Mandi-A, Udh Mandi-B, Grota Mandi, Sani Mandi, Poali Mandi and Andradh Mandi are participating in the championship, which is being played on knockout basis, while handsome cash rewards will be given away at the closing ceremony to winning and runner-up teams.
Speaking on the occasion, SSP Benam Tosh said that Gurah Salathia has been a “Veer Bhumi ” and it has produced great warriors who have contributed a lot towards the nation. He further said that the main objective of organising sports activities in this area is to prevent youth from falling prey to deadly drug menace and to channelize their energy in the right direction.
He informed that police have already been running a Drug De-addiction Centre in Gurah Salathia and Police is going to provide Gym to Gurah Salathia very shortly. Moreover, a grand anti-drug awareness programme will be organized at Gurah Salathia in next few days in which cash rewards will be bestowed upon the speakers, he said.