DIMAPUR — The COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) flying squad team conducted an enforcement drive/raid on the sale of tobacco products in and around educational institutions in Wokha town on Monday.
The team was led by the officer in charge of Wokha Police Station, along with staff from the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), representatives from the district administration, the Lotha Students’ Union led by its president Lirhonthung Kithan, and women police personnel, according to a DIPR report.
During the raid, the team penalised 13 defaulters (under COTPA sections 6A and 6B) for selling tobacco products and seized the tobacco products from the shops falling within the restricted areas. The defaulters were fined INR 200 each.
It was stated that the team will continue to conduct such raids frequently in the coming days as well.
Furthermore, shopkeepers were directed to comply with the COTPA Act and were warned that necessary legal action would be initiated as per the provisions of the law.
The seized tobacco products were destroyed on the same day at the police station premises, in the presence of all the squad members.