BHUBANESWAR: Wary of the habit of scholars towards hookah, the state police headquarters has asked superintendents of police (SPs) in districts to launch special pressure in opposition to such hangouts that illegally offer narcotic ingredients on the pretext of running hookah bars.
Director general of police R P Sharma on November 16 wrote to the SPs, asking them to assemble intelligence and raid such hookah bars. TOI has observed the DGP's round. Police strongly suspect lots of the hookah joints sale dangerous psychotropic ingredients, marijuana, unfiltered tobacco and prime quantity of nicotine to attract kids.
"We have asked the SPs to raid such hookah bars and seize the substances they use for smoking in their establishments. Those found guilty should be booked under different sections of cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA), food safety and standards act and juvenile justice (care and protection) act," Sharma advised TOI. "While we take strong legal action and instil fear among the offenders, there is also a need to bring public awareness, mostly among children, parents and educational institutions against the danger of using hookah," Sharma stated.
Hookah bar operators stated it is tough on their phase to determine the age of holiday makers. "We cannot ask each and every visitor about their age. It will affect our business as well," stated a hookah bar proprietor.
A few days ago, the commissionerate police raided a couple of hookah joints in the town and seized the ingredients used for smoking. In maximum of those circumstances, the police simplest slapped superb below COTPA and warned the hookah operators to not allow other people to smoke in public puts. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) too raided some hookah bars in Saheed Nagar earlier this month. BMC stated food licence of the erring hookah bars shall be cancelled if they're found promoting tobacco-related merchandise on their premises.
More than 30 hookah bars exist in the town, mostly in Saheed Nagar and Patia areas. The joints offer hookah of different flavours between the associated fee vary of Rs 250 and Rs 350. Health experts stated hookah is equally harmful like cigarette. "I recently visited a hookah bar in Patia where the manager told me that they sold only herbal shrubs and low quantity of filtered tobacco. When I tasted it, it was very strong and gave me a quick kick," stated Pradipta Tripathy, a physician.
"The charcoal used to heat the tobacco in the hookah increases the health risks. It contains high levels of carbon monoxide, metals and cancer-causing chemicals," he stated.
Director general of police R P Sharma on November 16 wrote to the SPs, asking them to assemble intelligence and raid such hookah bars. TOI has observed the DGP's round. Police strongly suspect lots of the hookah joints sale dangerous psychotropic ingredients, marijuana, unfiltered tobacco and prime quantity of nicotine to attract kids.
"We have asked the SPs to raid such hookah bars and seize the substances they use for smoking in their establishments. Those found guilty should be booked under different sections of cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA), food safety and standards act and juvenile justice (care and protection) act," Sharma advised TOI. "While we take strong legal action and instil fear among the offenders, there is also a need to bring public awareness, mostly among children, parents and educational institutions against the danger of using hookah," Sharma stated.
Hookah bar operators stated it is tough on their phase to determine the age of holiday makers. "We cannot ask each and every visitor about their age. It will affect our business as well," stated a hookah bar proprietor.
A few days ago, the commissionerate police raided a couple of hookah joints in the town and seized the ingredients used for smoking. In maximum of those circumstances, the police simplest slapped superb below COTPA and warned the hookah operators to not allow other people to smoke in public puts. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) too raided some hookah bars in Saheed Nagar earlier this month. BMC stated food licence of the erring hookah bars shall be cancelled if they're found promoting tobacco-related merchandise on their premises.
More than 30 hookah bars exist in the town, mostly in Saheed Nagar and Patia areas. The joints offer hookah of different flavours between the associated fee vary of Rs 250 and Rs 350. Health experts stated hookah is equally harmful like cigarette. "I recently visited a hookah bar in Patia where the manager told me that they sold only herbal shrubs and low quantity of filtered tobacco. When I tasted it, it was very strong and gave me a quick kick," stated Pradipta Tripathy, a physician.
"The charcoal used to heat the tobacco in the hookah increases the health risks. It contains high levels of carbon monoxide, metals and cancer-causing chemicals," he stated.
Police home in on hookah joints, suspect sale of drugs
![Police home in on hookah joints, suspect sale of drugs]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 27, 2017
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