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Dimapur, May 9 (EMN): In pursuance to state government notification declaring all educational institutions including both government and private health establishments as tobacco-free, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Nagaland conducted a joint enforcement drive in 11 NTCP districts on Tuesday.
An update from the Health department stated that the district anti-tobacco squad penalised shops under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPO) 2003. In all, 2 shops under penalised under Section 6(a), 114 shops under Section 6 and 2 shops under Section 7. It also collected fines amounting to INR 14,730. While some seized tobacco items were destroyed, some samples are kept to be sent for testing at Guwahati.
The Phek district tobacco control cell (DTCC) carried out an enforcement drive for the implementation of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 on May 9 in and around Phek town. The drive was carried out by the staff of NTCP, police personnel and Dobashis.
During the drive, 10 shops were penalised for violation of COTPA 2003 under Section 6 (a) and the shopkeepers were apprised of the various sections under COTPA 2003 for future compliance.
In a similar programme, Mokokchung DTCC along with police personnel from Mokokchung Police Station-I carried out an enforcement activity and seized tobacco items from seven shops, which were located within 100 yards of educational institutions. It added that the defaulters were penalised under COTPA 2003 Section 6.
In another programme, the COTPA flying squad team led by SI Thungchio Ngullie along with dobashis from district administrative, and women police personnel in Wokha town conducted an enforcement drive on the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions.
During the raid, the team penalised nine defaulters and seized tobacco products from the shops falling within the restricted areas. The defaulters were penalised with a fine of INR 200.
The shopkeepers were directed to abide by the COTPA Act and warned that necessary legal action would be initiated as per the provision of the law.
Later, the seized tobacco products were destroyed at the police station in Wokha town in the presence of all the flying squad members.
Meanwhile, the enforcement squad of Mon also carried out a surprise raid on the sale of tobacco products near the school area. It stated that a total number of 15 shops were found violating COTPA Sec 6, while another two shops were found violating COTPA Sec 6(a).
It added that the defaulters were penalised and tobacco products were seized and destroyed at the premises of the police station in Mon town.
Zunheboto DTCC along with police personnel also conducted an enforcement drive in Zunheboto town under the COTPA 2003 and penalised 10 shops and collected a fine of INR 1900. The seized items were later burned inside the police station.
The Longleng district enforcement squad team and Child Rights Protection conducted a surprise raid on the sale of tobacco products within Longleng town on May 8.
The district enforcement squad team was led by Dr. Samuel Konyak, EAC of Longleng; Dr. Bongau Phom, NTCP district nodal officer; and Bunglang Chang, SDPO of Longleng.
The seized tobacco products were burnt at the DC office premises in the presence of district administration, the Medical department and DEF Longleng. A total of 25 shops were penalised during the raid.