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Members of anti-tobacco squad along with students’ leaders during the destruction of seized tobacco items on April 7.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 9 (EMN): District anti-tobacco squad led by the team leader T Kikon, ACP Traffic, carried out inspection in different part of the cities on April 7 in which 19 shops were penalised and one person was forwarded to court for prosecution under COTPA Section 7, 8 and 9 for keeping illegal cigarettes.
This is the first case in Dimapur where an accused has been forwarded to court under COTPA 2003. T Kikon stated that keeping foreign made cigarettes is a serious offence under COTPA as well as tax law of India. He cautioned the traders not to sell these products as it will only invite troubles including fine and imprisonment.
He also warned that repeated violation of the provisions of COTPA can be charged under relevant sections of IPC and also under Juvenile Justice Amendment Act 2015.
The team comprising members from police, medical, food safely, drug control and student leaders. Later, tobacco products seized by the students’ organisation and the district task force were destroyed in CMO compound.