Zarda paan banned in Karimnagar

The Commissionerate of Police, which is crusading against the use of banned tobacco products, has warned paan shop owners against selling zarda paan in Karimnagar district from May 10 onwards.

Reacting to a query at a press conference here on Thursday, Commissioner of Police V.B. Kamalasan Reddy said that the tobacco masala (zarda and kemaam etc.) used in the making of paan was also banned by the government as it caused cancer and other diseases.

Hence, all the paan shop owners in the district were instructed to stop the sale and making of zarda paan made of tobacco masala, he said. Informing the paan shop owners to educate the people about the ban of tobacco related paan masala, he educated the paan shop owners to make only sweet paan for its customers.

Case for violation

He also said case would be registered for violation if any paan shop owners sold or made paan mixed with tobacco masala after May 10.

It may be recalled that the Karimnagar town paan shop owners have observed one-day bandh on Wednesday in protest against the police instructions.

A delegation had also met the Commissioner of Police in this regard, but the Commissioner of Police vehemently opposed their plea.