Special squad to conduct raids

KOCHI: The Kochi corporation will soon conduct raids on shops selling tobacco products near schools in all the 74 divisions under it.  “The action will be taken under the provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Prohibition Act 2003. Sale of tobacco products or cigarettes to any person who is under 18 years of age and in the area within a radius of 400 yards of any educational institution is prohibited,” said Kochi Corporation Health Standing Committee chairman T K Ashraf. He said that a special squad consisting of health inspectors has been constituted for the purpose. “The squad will start conducting raids from Friday. During the raid, if shops located near schools are found selling tobacco products, they will be seized by the officials. These products will be destroyed later,” Ashraf said.He said that a warning will be given to the shopkeepers first. “If they are not aware that it is against the law to sell tobacco products to school children, then the warning will be an eye-opener to them. But if they are repeating the same mistake again, then their licence will be cancelled,” Ashraf said. Earlier, Mayor Tony Chammany said that apart from cancelling the licenses of the shops, the Corporation will also chalk out an action plan with the support of the district administration to prevent the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to school children.