At least 14 people faced action for violating anti-smoking law in Jagatsinghpur town. They were smoking in public places and were fined Rs200 each and later freed with strong admonition of not flouting smoking rules again.

As a part of a drive to check smoking and tobacco use in public places, the Jagatsinghpur police have started taking action against persons found consuming or selling of cigarette and tobacco products in public places, including educational institutions and hospitals in defiance of Cigarette and other Tobacco Product Act 2003 (COTPA).

The police visited several public places and crowded bus stops in the town and nabbed 14 persons violating smoking rules. They were brought to the police station after a brief interrogation.

“Since the violators were not aware of the-anti smoking rules, we imposed Rs 200 as fine on each of them and later freed them with warning not to repeat the act,” revealed Jagatsinghpur police station IIC Satish Chandra Ray. However, he maintained more restrictions would be imposed on the tobacco users in the town in days to come.

Sources informed the incident has frightened smokers and shopkeepers, especially in front of educational institutions. A betel vendor said that cigarette sales had dipped due to its increasing cost and anti-tobacco drive by the police in past few months. He added the police should notify the smoking zone in hotels, offices and public places.

Two months ago, a man was nabbed by the Naugaon police for smoking at a bus stop. However, later he was freed after he paid a fine of Rs 200.