53 arrested for selling banned tobacco products

Vijayawada: The police intensified raids in various parts of the district on Saturday and booked 35 cases and arrested 53 persons in connection with the sale of banned gutka, Khaini and other injurious tobacco products. Traders are selling gutka and other tobacco products and making money.

After assuming charge as Superintendent of Police Ravindranath Babu recently, he ordered the police to conduct raids and book cases on those traders for selling gutka and other harmful products. It may be recalled that the State government had banned the sale of gutka long time ago. But the small traders and brokers are ignoring the ban orders and selling the tobacco products in small sachets.

The SP asked the police to open rowdy sheets and apply PD Act also in case the traders don't stop the sale of harmful products. The SP, in a press release on Sunday, warned that the traders will be expelled from cities and towns following the instructions of the district collector if they continue the sale of banned products.

The SP said the tobacco products were very harmful and the people easily get addicted to it. He asked the police to conduct raids and searches on kiosks and shops to seize gutka, Khaini and other packets. The police seized the banned products worth Rs 1 lakh on Saturday and warned similar raids will continue across the district.