Guwahati: Enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA),2003 receives consolidation from Assam Police as they have started taking up stringent measures against people for smoking in public places, selling of tobacco products to minors and advertising nicotine-based products.
The drive caught momentum on Tuesday as police fined shop owners for selling cigarette packets with an inadequate display of warnings and setting up stalls for selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools.
Dr. Ramdeep Kaur, DCP East Guwahati is optimistic that such steps taken up by the State Police will have a long-term effect in reducing the use of tobacco among people.
“We hope this campaign will increase public awareness and help in making our public places and educational institutes tobacco-free,” the DCP said.
The action is being taken under the direction of Guwahati Commissioner of Police, Hiren Chandra Nath and it aims at keeping the youth away from tobacco addiction and preventing non-smokers from the bad effects of inhaling passive smoke.
Dr. Ashok Das, a cancer surgeon at B Barooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) and a patron of Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) has appreciated the move and called it commendable.