POLICE SEIZE GUTKA, TOBACCO WORTH `1 CRORE

The Hyderabad police has booked 159 cases with regard to illegal trade in tobacco products so far this year, and arrested 173 pesons. In the last few days, the police have seized gutka and tobacco products worth of `1 crore.

In the first case, the North Zone Task Force police laid a trap at Nav Bharath Road Lines, intercepted a lorry and seized tobacco brands and cigarette packets of various brands worth `71 lakh.

Subsequently, the police arrested Pratap Kumar Bhasker, owner of the transport firm, and his associates Amith Anil Yadav and Mohan Raghoba Shadole.

The Task Force team handed over the accused and seized products to the Shahinayathgunj police for further investigation.

In an another case, the South Zone Task Force police arrested three persons — Md Abdul Azam, Abu Bakar Bin Ilyas Zumbali and Omer Bin Ali Timimi — and seized gutka material worth `10 lakh.

Briefing mediapersons, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said, “During the special drive the gutka menace in last few days, the south and east zone Task Force teams apprehended 32 persons procuring and selling banned gutka and Tobacco products. They seized property worth `30 lakhs from the accused.” Anjani Kumar added, “Our aim is to ensure that Hyderabad is a gutka- and tobacco-free city. We are striving to achieve our aim. As a part of this, we are conducting special drives.”

The Hyderabad police appealed to the public to inform them about the sale of illegal gutka and tobacco products through 100.