Seized packets of tobacco products at the district food inspector’s office in Khasmahal on Tuesday. Picture by Animesh Sengupta

East Singhbhum district health department on Tuesday raided tobacco outlets in Bistupur, seizing 600 packets of three brands from two stores.

The hour-long raid was led by civil surgeon Jagat Bhusan Prasad, additional chief medical officer Kalicharan Singh Munda and food inspector Mahesh Pandey. A team of Bistupur police accompanied district health officials.

In 2012, Jharkhand government had banned production, distribution and sale of gutkha, a chewable addictive stimulant containing tobacco held responsible for oral cancer.

Gutkha, prepared from crushed betel nut (supari), tobacco, paraffin, slaked lime (chuna) and sweet or spicy flavour, is also addictive. Sold in pouches, it is more affordable than cigarettes or booze.

But, owing to vast demand, shops across the state continue to sell the contraband.

The three brands, relatively new entrants in the market, are Shohrat Pan Masala, Pan Parag 2000 Paan Masala and Pan Parag Xtra Plus Tobacco.

The two retail outlets — Puria Brothers and M/s Ravi & Sons, owned by Shanker Lal Puria and Ravinder Kumar Sahu — are located in the Fruit Wholesale Market, Bistupur market.

Speaking to The Telegraph, district food inspector Mahesh Pandey said raids were carried out on the directive of the district civil surgeon after “complaints or tip-offs” that retailers told tobacco products such as pan masala and gutkha without displaying ingredients to escape penalty.

The seized consignments, which display their manufacturing addresses in Kanpur and Agra, don’t have ingredients’ list printed.

“The manufacturers may have indulged in these tactics to ward off raids as gutkha is banned in Jharkhand. There is a long chain of offenders in this racket. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will carry raids in other part of the city too,” said the food inspector.

Of the seized consignment, 100 packets from each brand have been sent to the state owned food testing lab at Namkum in Ranchi.

If the samples are found to contain tobacco and nicotine, then fines ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 3 lakh can be slapped against the owners.

“We expect to get results of the samples from the lab within 14 days. Then, we will prepare and submit a detailed report before East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Himani Pande, who is the adjudicating officer under Food Safety and Standard Act for punishment against the shop owners,” he added.

Do you think such crackdowns will reduce tobacco sale?

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