Smoking in public places: 96 persons fined in Srinagar

Authorities here today fined 96 people for smoking in public places while also charge-sheeting shopkeepers for selling tobacco products outside educational institutions in the city.
The action against tobacco offenders was taken by a team led by SHO Kothibagh, Zulqarnain, and consisting of Srinagar food safety officer, Shabir Ahmed Lone, along with volunteers from the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association.
During inspections at various public places in the heart of the city, the team collected fines of Rs 9,600, officials said.
It also charge-sheeted some shopkeepers for selling tobacco products outside educational institutions in violation of Section 5 of the Anti-Tobacco Act, sources added.

The move follows instructions by IGP (crime), Javed Gillani, to police stations asking them to incorporate offences under the said Act in their monthly crime reports.