Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Jun 21: In a strict move to implement the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, a special squad led by the Udupi taluk health officer conducted widespread raids across Kaup taluk recently.
The officials targeted several tobacco-selling shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants in Padubidri town and the surrounding bus stand areas. During the operation, the squad registered a total of 44 cases against the violators and collected fines amounting to Rs 17,000.
The raiding team included Udupi taluk health officer Dr Vasudeva Upadhya, senior health inspecting officers Basavaraj Jadar and Jagadish Rao, zonal health education officer Chandrakala, taluk physical inspection officer Ravindra Naik, Padubidri police station officer Sridhar R, labour inspector N P L Sanjay, district tobacco control cell coordinator Manjula, and social worker Mahesh D Bhandary.