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  Mumbai Police and FDA to fight tobacco

Mumbai Police and FDA to fight tobacco

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Feb 18, 2016, 1:56 am IST
Updated : Feb 18, 2016, 1:56 am IST

The Mumbai Police and the Food and Drug Authority have rolled up their sleeves to ensure that the norms of the tweaked Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 are implemented in re

The Mumbai Police and the Food and Drug Authority have rolled up their sleeves to ensure that the norms of the tweaked Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 are implemented in real earnest. As part of the initiative to strictly implement the norm of no tobacco sale within 100 metre radius of educational institutions, the police made its first arrest near a well-known school at Matunga after receiving a tip off that cigarettes were being sold to minors from the school.

According to a police official, the agencies have decided to come together to implement clause 77 of the Act and will be inspecting areas around schools to see whether there are shops selling tobacco or related products in the region. As per the clause ‘Whoever gives, or causes to be given, to any child any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance, except on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees’.

“The previous rules had a very light punishment and hence its implementation was not effective. However the stricter rules will ensure that those found selling cigarettes and tobacco products to minors will be dealt with severely, hence its effectiveness will be increased” said Atul Kulkarni, additional director general and crime branch chief.

On Tuesday, the FDA received a tip-off about a shop in Matunga selling cigarettes to minors from a nearby school, following which a police team swooped down on the seller and arrested him. ACP Rajdoot Rupwate along with his team arrested Maniram Chaurasiya and has slapped cases under the relevant sections against him. Chaurasiya was produced in court and remanded to police custody.