Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 28: Karnataka stands first in the entire country in the implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), said Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police (SP) Dr Sharanappa here on Friday August 28.
Addressing a press meet at his office, the SP said, "The intensive awareness and enforcement drive on COTPA was implemented on trial basis in Puttur from July 1. As it was successful, we decided to implement it in Bantwal, Beltangady and Sullia also.
Due to strict implementation of the Act, the police registered 1,991 cases this year and collected Rs 3,48,000 in fines. Though the Act had been enforced in 2003, it was strictly implemented only this year, he said. In 2013, 659 cases were registered under COTPA and Rs 57,000 was collected as fines in the district, whereas in 2014, only 246 cases were filed and Rs 46,500 collected as fines.
"COTPA has been effectively implemented in the district up to 80 percent. This is an effort to control active as well as passive smoking in public. The main objective is to reduce the impact of smoking on social health. I have written to 96 departments for support in this drive," the SP said.
"There were station-level meetings with stake holders and fines were imposed on those who violated the law. We imposed fines on government officials also and conducted 970 raids," he added.
Techie loses Rs 20 lac to lottery scam
SP Sharanappa also spoke of a case wherein an IT professional lost Rs 20 lac to a lottery scam. The youth, hailing from Kadaba in Puttur and working in Kolar, received an SMS in November 2014 stating that he had won Rs one crore. He was asked to share some personal information, which he did, and also deposited money in phases, as and when told. In the process, he lost approximately Rs 20 lac without getting a rupee of the 'lottery'.
"The case is in the preliminary stage of investigation," the SP said.
He also urged the public to ignore such unsolicited messages about lottery received on phone or by email. "People are being easily fooled by these lottery scams. The media should also create awareness on this," he said.