New Delhi, March 25: The Delhi Police Friday started a drive to remove tobacco vendors from locations close to schools and hospitals here.
The random drive, which saw raids on cigarette vendors, comes almost three months after the Delhi High Court pulled up and directed Delhi Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta to enforce the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) more strictly.
“The drive was conducted between 12 and 2 p.m. in central Delhi, primarily in Daryaganj and Kamla Market areas,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Kishore.
Similar drives were conducted at the Delhi University’s north campus, north Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh and Ashok Vihar, and in the capital’s outer areas.
“This is the second time that we have conducted this drive. The purpose is not to penalize vendors but to apprise them of the High Court’s decision to ensure compliance,” said Chhaya Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police who directed random checking of vendors operating near schools and hospitals in Mongolpuri, Rohini, Prashant Vihar, Begumpur and Badli areas.
–Agencies