Cancel shop licence if tobacco is sold near educational institutions in Dakshina Kannada: Officials
Mangaluru (Karnataka) Aug 8: Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada D Santhosh Kumar on Thursday ordered the authorities to take stern action against shopkeepers selling cigarettes and tobacco products within a 100-metre radius of schools and colleges.
“If the shopkeepers are found violating the sections of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003), officials must take action mercilessly and cancel their trade licences” he said.
He was addressing a district-level coordination meeting under the National Tobacco Control Programme for the year 2024-25 held at the district office on August 8.
He gave the order to the Mangaluru city corporation officials and asked them to submit a monthly report to the Deputy Commissioner.
He said surveys conducted indicate that the consumption of tobacco is increasing among workers. The Labor Department and the District Tobacco Control Cell, in collaboration with Wenlock Hospital, should go to the workers' colonies and create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption, he said.
In rural areas, Gram Panchayat Panchayat Development Officers should conduct continuous operations on tobacco control. He told them to raid and cancel the licence if tobacco is being sold within 100 metres of schools, colleges, religious places and anganwadis.
He directed the City Corporation, Excise Department, Labour Department, Education Department, Women and Child Welfare Department, and other concerned departments to take action in case of any illegal sale of tobacco in their jurisdiction.
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Bengaluru customs arrest Bangkok flyer with drugs worth 2.8 crores at KIAL
Bengaluru: Customs sleuths on Tuesday arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok at the Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly trafficking drugs.
During routine checking at the airport, customs officials seized a large quantity of hydroponic cannabis from the passenger’s luggage.
Officials said around 8 kg of hydroponic cannabis was recovered, with its estimated market value pegged at approximately Rs 2.8 crore.
In a separate case on the same day, customs officials recovered about 900 grams of ganja, worth around Rs 31.5 lakh, from another passenger who had arrived from Hong Kong.
According to the officials, both passengers had concealed the narcotic substances inside their luggage in an attempt to evade detection.
The customs department has taken both the accused into custody and have initiated questioning.
A probe in connection with the incident is underway, and legal action is being pursued against them under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
