Drugs de-addiction centre, campaign to curb sale of tobacco in Bokaro dist

Bokaro: Acting on the directions of the deputy development commissioner Kirtishree G, the district administration would set up a drugs de-addiction centre in Sector 5 as part of Centre’s ‘drugs-free India’ campaign.
Bokaro deputy commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary said, “We would launch a massive campaign to curb the sale of tobacco in the district.”
DSP Purushottam Kumar asked the officers in-charge of the police stations to conduct raids at least once every week to curb the sale and use of tobacco and drugs in the district. The police personnel would ensure that no shops sell tobacco within 100 meters of any educational institute. Schools have also been asked to hang a ‘Tobacco-free educational institution’ board at the main gate or face fine under Section-6B of the COTPA Act, 2003.
District counselor of ‘National Tobacco Control Programme’ Mohammad Aslam said smoking has been banned in public places. “If anyone violates it, the guilty person can be fined up to Rs 200. Advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products is prohibited under Section 5 of the COTPA, 2003. The guilty can be imprisoned for two to five years or a fine of Rs 1,000-5,000 might be levied on him / her or both. Under Section 6, there is a ban on the purchase and sale of tobacco to minors within 100 yards of all educational institutions. The guilty can be fined up to Rs 2,00,” he informed.
Earlier on Friday, the police station in-charges attended an orientation programme held under the ‘National Tobacco Control Programme’ by the district police department. Nodal officers were nominated from each police station under the chairmanship of DSP (headquarters) Mukesh Kumar for implementation of the COTPA, 2003.