Tue Jul 01 04:25:07 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article based on it:

**Summary:**

Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has taken over as the 41st State Police Chief of Kerala, succeeding Shaik Darvesh Saheb. He arrived from New Delhi and received the ceremonial baton at the State Police Headquarters. Upon assuming office, he pledged to strengthen law enforcement, focusing particularly on combating drug abuse through a specialized strategy involving educational institutions. He also promised to address cybercrime, foster community-oriented policing, and improve public grievance redressal at police stations. His first official engagement is in Kannur.

**News Article:**

**Ravada A. Chandrasekhar Assumes Charge as Kerala’s New Police Chief, Vows Crackdown on Drug Abuse and Cybercrime**

**Thiruvananthapuram, July 1, 2025** – Ravada A. Chandrasekhar officially took office today as the 41st State Police Chief (SPC) of Kerala, succeeding Shaik Darvesh Saheb. The ceremony took place at the State Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

The 1991-batch IPS officer, arriving from New Delhi, received the ceremonial baton from Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh. Prior to this appointment, Chandrasekhar served as Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau under Central deputation. His tenure as SPC is expected to last until July 2026.

In his inaugural press conference, Chandrasekhar identified the rising menace of drug abuse as the immediate priority. “The biggest immediate threat facing our society is the increasing influence of drugs,” he stated, outlining plans for a “special strategy” including awareness programs within educational institutions to reduce drug demand.

Addressing concerns about cybercrime, the new SPC assured the public of firm action and enhanced cybersecurity measures. He also emphasized the importance of community-oriented policing, prioritizing trust, especially among marginalized groups, and pledged to address public grievances at police stations through improved training and disciplinary action against misconduct.

“We will work on two aspects: better training and strong disciplinary action wherever misconduct is reported. Sensitisation programmes will be launched to address these issues,” Chandrasekhar told reporters.

His first official engagement as SPC is scheduled to take place in Kannur later today.

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