The City cops are set to increase their drive against smoking habit in public areas. So, every police station in the City has been given targets about the number of cases to be booked each day. While senior police officers refused setting targets, juniors require there is pressure on them to punish violators. The City police seem to have woken up to the existence of the no-smoking legislation in the wake of a directive from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A policeman at Sadashiva Nagar declared: “We are not targeting every inhabitant who smoke in public places. Nevertheless, we have been directed by higher-ups to attempt fines against at least 10 to 15 violations per day.”
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) T Suneel Kumar explained that Deccan Herald had set up special divisions for to enforce the ban on smoking in public and the drive by the City police complemented the BBMP’s efforts. “We have informed police stations to lead special drives to implement the new ban more efficiently. However, no every day targets for enforcing penalties have been set,” he added.
To discourage smoking in public areas, Station House Officers (SHOs) are penalizing tobacco retailers Rs 500 for selling cigs in loose.
On MG Road, stores sell cigs only in packages, and do not permit buyers to smoke near the shops.