A total of 13 people have been penalised under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 for selling tobacco products in and around educational institutions in Wokha on Monday.

Tobacco products were also seized from the shops falling within the restricted areas.

The defaulters were penalised under the COTPA Sec 6B with a fine of Rs 200 each.

A joint team of the COTPA flying squad led by Wokha police OC, staff of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), representatives from district administration, Lotha Student’s Union led by its president Lirhonthung Kithan and Wokha women police personnel penalised the 13 after conducting enforcement drive/raid on sale of tobacco products in the restricted areas.

The team members said they would be frequently conducting such kind of raids in the coming days also.

Directing the shopkeepers to abide by the COTPA Act, they warned that necessary legal action would be initiated as per the provision of the law.

The seized tobacco products were destroyed the same day at the Wokha police station premises in the presence of all the squad members.

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