28 POLICE OFFICERS NOMINATED AS NODAL OFFICERS TO STRICTLY IMPLEMENT ANTI-TOBACCO LAWS

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 8, 2018: In a bid to curb the selling and usage of tobacco products in the state, the Punjab Government has nominated 28 Punjab Police Officers as nodal officers to keep eagle’s eye on illegal selling of tobacco products and ensuring the strict implementation of ‘Anti Tobacco Laws' in all districts. It was disclosed by Mr.Brahm Mohindra, Health Minister, Punjab.

Health Minister in a press communiqué released here said that cancer is matter of serious concern in the state where tobacco kills 80 persons daily in Punjab. He said that considering the gravity of the problem the State Government has nominated senior officers of the rank of DSPs & SPs as Nodal Officers to scale up surveillance and tighten the noose around the offenders who are found selling tobacco products to the minors illegally.

He said that police officers were nominated as Nodal Officer during a sensitization workshop organized at Punjab Health Systems Corporation.

Giving further details of this sensitization workshop official spokesperson of the Health Department said that this workshop was chaired by Mr. Prabodh Kumar, Director, Bureau of Investigation. He ensured the Health Department that police department would leave no stone unturned for ensuring the implementation of the Anti Tobacco Laws with an iron hand.

He said that Police department and Health department would work in close coordination to kick out the nefarious, immoral and unethical practices like sale of illicit and loose cigarettes, Hookah bars and sale of tobacco products to the minors. He also issued instructions to the Police Officers at the spot to pull up their sleeves and to bring all those offenders to books who are spoiling our youngsters.

Dr. Areet kaur State Nodal Officer, Tobacco Control, Punjab also addressed the Police Officers and said that we must also strengthen our district task force to keep vigil at the grass-root level. She expressed hope that with the active involvement of the Police Department no offender would escape the long arms of the laws.

This sensitization workshop were attended by the Nodal Officers Mr. Harjit Singh, PPS, ADCP/Crime from Amritsar(C), Mr. Harpreet Singh , PPS, DSP/Inv. from Amritsar (R), Mr.Ashwani Kumar, PPS, DSP/Inv. from TaranTaran, Mr. Harwinder Singh, PPS, DSP/Inv. from Gurdaspur, Mr. Varinderpreet Singh, PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from Batala, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from Pathankot, Mr. Gurmail Singh , PPS, ACP/Inv. from Jalandhar(C), Mr. Balwinder Iqbal Singh Kahlon, PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from Jalandhar (R), Mr. Balbir Singh, PPS, DSP/Inv. from Kapurthala, Mr. Gurjitpal Singh , PPS, DSP, Inv. from Hoshiarpur, Mr. Gurpreet Singh, PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from SBS Nagar, Mr. Varinderjit Singh , PPS, DSP/Inv. from Ropar, Mr. Harbir Singh Atwal , PPS, SP/Inv. from SAS Nagar, Mr. Surinder Mohan Singh, PPS, ACP/Inv. from Ludhiana (C), Mr. Rupinder Kumar Bhardwaj. PPS. SP/Inv. from Ludhiana (R), Mr. Vikas Sabharwal , PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from Khanna, Mr. Harpal Singh, PPS, SP/Inv. from FGS, Mr. Satpal Sharma, PPS, DSP/Inv. from Patiala, Mr. Harmeet Singh Hundal, PPS, SP/Inv. from Sangrur, Mr. Jagdish Kumar Bishnoi , PPS, DSP/ Hqrs. from Barnala, Mr. Ajmer Singh, PPS, SP/Inv. from Ferozpur, Mr. Mukhtiar Singh, PPS, SP/Inv. from from Fazilka, Mr. Sewa Singh Malli, , PPS, SP/Inv. from Fridkot, Mr. Kesar Singh, PPS, DSP/Hqrs. from Moga, Mr. Gurjit Singh, PPS, DSP/ Hqrs. from Muktsar, Mr. Karan Sher Singh , PPS, DSP/Inv. from Batala, Mr. Narinder Pal Singh, PPS, SP/Inv. from Mansa and Mr. Balraj Singh, PPS, SP/Inv. from AIG/GRP, PTL.