The city police will strengthen checking in various parts of the city to prevent the illegal trade of pan masala and other banned tobacco products on the premises of educational institutions. The vigil is part of a decision taken by a district-level monitoring committee.
To ensure the cooperation of various departments, the monitoring committee, comprising representatives of the Education Department, will hold a district-level meeting here on Wednesday. District Collector C.A. Latha will chair the meeting, which will be attended by senior police officers and officials from the Excise Department.
Brought by trainsThe special drive is conducted following information that several illegal traders have reportedly procured the banned products with the support of dealers from outside the State. The banned tobacco products are mostly transported by train by migrant labourers. The Railway Protection Force officials said that on many occasions the carriers escaped as they kept the products in distant bogies.
Sources said that migrant workers were the major consumers of tobacco products. Stopping all means of illegal transportation and preventing the product from reaching the hands of students were the aim of the drive, they said.
The Student Police Cadets (SPC) and various school protection committees too would offer support in collecting information on the trade of pan masala products near schools. The details of the educational institutions and students would be kept confidential.
The Railway Police also would team up for the cause.
