Srinagar, Jan 18: In a bid to enforce the ban on public smoking, Srinagar Police conducted an extensive anti-smoking drive in the bustling Lal Chowk area on Saturday led by Police station Kothibagh, headed by SHO Manzoor Ahmad. The drive, aimed at curbing the rising instances of public smoking, resulted in fines of Rs 200 being imposed on violators.
Lal Chowk, often crowded with shoppers, office-goers, and tourists, has long been a hotspot for public smoking despite the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The police action was initiated after repeated complaints from locals about the health hazards posed by smoking in public spaces.
During the operation, several individuals were caught smoking in prohibited areas and were penalized on the spot. The initiative has been welcomed by many residents who have long demanded stricter enforcement of anti-smoking laws. “It’s good to see the authorities taking action. Public smoking affects everyone, especially children and the elderly,” said Nazir Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Lal Chowk, while talking with the Associated News Bureau.
While the drive is being lauded as a positive step, citizens and activists are urging the police to conduct such campaigns regularly and expand them across the region. Sustained efforts, they believe, will create a lasting impact and discourage public smoking altogether. (ANB)
