Berhampur: The Berhampur Police raided seven illegal hookah bars in the city and seized 47 hookah pots with stand, tobacco and other smoking items.
Seven criminal cases have been registered against the owners of the illegal hookah bars, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said on Friday.
Five teams conducted simultaneous raids at the hookah bars running at different hotels/restaurants. The 7 hotels and restaurants were running hookah bars and during raids the general public including few minors were found smoking hookah in these bars.
On further verification, it was found that packets of prohibited tobacco products and other chemicals including charcoal were added with fire for smoking in hookah instruments, SP said.
On demand by the raiding teams, the owners of these restaurants-cum-hookah bars failed to produce any authority or license in support of running the hookah bar and selling of tobacco products.
Officials said the seized tobacco products contained harmful chemicals added to enhance flavour and intoxication levels. These substances pose serious health risks, including cancer and lung diseases. To prevent further illegal sales, police confiscated hookah equipment, including pots, stands, charcoal, and tobacco packets.
Seven cases have been registered at BN Pur PS, Town PS, and Bada Bazar PS under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. The police have warned that strict action will be taken against those violating the law and endangering public health.