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In a targeted effort to curb the sale of tobacco products in proximity to educational institutions, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), conducted raids on 70 shops. The crackdown, executed on Wednesday as part of “Operation Kavach 4.0,” resulted in fines being imposed on shop owners under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
Special Police Commissioner (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav highlighted that the operation, guided by directives from the Union Home Affairs and the Lieutenant Governor, aimed to identify and apprehend individuals involved in trafficking and distributing tobacco near schools. The Anti-Narcotics Taskforce, leveraging data from the education department, targeted shops within a 100-meter radius of schools.
Yadav emphasized that the simultaneous, surprise raids took place in 31 areas across Delhi, with a focus on sending a strong message to illegal vendors operating near educational institutions. The objective was not only to prevent the sale of contraband substances to school-going children but also to take stringent action leading to the closure of such establishments.
The operation employed undercover officers, surveillance, canine support, and intelligence gathering to ensure its success. According to Yadav, “Operation Kavach” primarily serves to protect children from the dangers of drugs, reflecting a comprehensive and concerted effort to maintain a safe environment around schools in the capital.
