Hyderabad Police Raid 558 Shops Near Schools in Massive Anti-Tobacco Drive Hyderabad City Police conducted a large-scale enforcement operation on Saturday, raiding 558 shops located near schools and colleges across the city as part of a citywide crackdown named Operation Safe School. The initiative, led by Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, aimed to curb the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions and prevent students from early exposure to addictive substances. Nearly 5,000 police personnel, including teams from the Task Force, Special Units, H-New Wing, Reserve Police, and Law & Order divisions, participated in the coordinated inspections across all commissionerate zones. The operation was launched to address concerns about the accessibility of cigarettes, gutka, and other tobacco products to students, which officials warned could lead to nicotine addiction and subsequently increase the risk of alcohol and narcotic drug use among teenagers. Studies cited by the police highlighted the correlation between early exposure to tobacco and long-term health, educational, and behavioral issues. Commissioner Sajjanar emphasized that unchecked addiction could also contribute to juvenile crime, underscoring the necessity of early intervention. During the raids, cases were booked against shop owners found violating the law. Sajjanar personally oversaw the operation, inspecting shops in areas such as Chirag Ali Lane, Red Hill, Mehdipatnam, Mallepally Priya Talkies Junction, and Goshamahal. He directed officers to enforce strict legal action against those selling tobacco products near schools, warning that such activities would result in severe consequences.#v_c_sajjanar #operation_safe_school #hyderabad_city_police #h_new_division #mj_bridge
Hyderabad Police Launch 'Operation Safe School' to Combat Tobacco Sales Near Schools The Hyderabad police initiated a major crackdown on the sale of tobacco products to minors under the guise of "Operation Safe School," deploying over 5,000 personnel to conduct undercover operations in areas near schools. The operation targeted pan shop owners and kirana shopkeepers selling nicotine-based products, including cigarettes and pan masala, to children, with actions taken under the provisions of the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) and the Juvenile Justice Act. City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar announced the operation, stating that teams conducted inspections at 589 pan shops across the city, with several instances of shop owners handing over tobacco products to minors being recorded on video. "We are initiating legal action against these individuals," Sajjanar said, emphasizing that the sale of tobacco within a 100-yard radius of schools is strictly prohibited. He also revealed plans to collaborate with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to relocate shops located within the prohibited zone in the future. Sajjanar highlighted the dangers of nicotine exposure, noting that it serves as a gateway to drug addiction. He reiterated that the operation was part of a broader effort to protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco, which he linked to long-term public health risks. The police teams included local officers, task force members, drug-sniffing dogs, and CAR (Crime and Riot) staff to ensure thorough enforcement. The operation marked a significant step in the city's efforts to curb underage tobacco consumption, with the police planning to conduct regular drives in the coming days.#hyderabad_police #vc_sajjanar #greater_hyderabad_municipal_corporation #operation_safe_school #cotpa
