Jamshedpur police launch drive against drug menace in Bistupur, banned gutkha and tobacco products seized

Jamshedpur, March 12: Senior Superintendent of Police M Tamil Vanan on Saturday initiated a special drive against sale of gutkha and other chewing tobacco products at all suspicious outlets and petty shots in the heart of city at Bistupur. This special drive led to seizure of the stocks.

Makeshift shops selling tobacco products like cigarettes, beedi, gutkha, paan, khaini, near Kamani Centre in Bistupur and Medical Basti at Dhatkidih were taken into task. SSP himself visited the shops and seized the products.

Following complaints, the police have launched a special drive against drug trafficking under which the top cop told all the officers and senior officials to identify people involved in drug smuggling in their respective areas and take strict action.

Speaking to the media, the SSP said that the youths are becoming victims to the consumption of these tobacco products, endangering their lives and various health complications. Taking advantage of the addiction of the vulnerable sections to these products, the greedy traders are resorting to sell the products to them at higher prices.

A police official informed that the drive was followed after specific inputs that youngsters and students were falling victims to drug abuse in the district and a ‘network’ was active in supplying drugs.

“Raiding teams have been formed at the subdivision and block level. In addition, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai municipality have also been asked to raid those shops and locations where tobacco products are being sold without placing hoardings informing the public about harmful effects of tobacco and the penal provision. The raids will commence from this month,” said the official.

He went on to inform that crackdown is on narcotic rackets which are peddling drugs in the city. Comprehensive investigation is being conducted not only to arrest the peddlers but also to find the source and destination of the narcotic substance which are smuggled into the city.

Under Section 4 of the COTPA smoking is prohibited in all public places. Violations will invite a fine . Public places will have mandatory no-smoking signs in prescribed size and format.

 Schools and colleges, hospitals, restaurants, cinemas and administrative offices are on the list of public places and posters would also be placed near such public places. Section 5 of COTPA prohibits all forms of tobacco ads and any such hoarding will be pulled down by the teams with help from local urban bodies.

Despite the Jharkhand government banning sale of tobacco products near educational institutions (within a radius of 100 yards or 91 metres) there are over a dozen such spots in the city where the directive was being clearly violated.