Gutkha worth over Rs 1.5 lakh seized in Puri; shopkeeper arrested

In a continued crackdown on banned tobacco products, Puri police has seized gutkha worth over Rs 1.5 lakh on Wednesday and arrested a shopkeeper for allegedly selling the items illegally. The action was carried out by Baseli Sahi police station as part of an ongoing drive against the unlawful trade.

The arrested shopkeeper has been identified as Ramchandra Malu of Jagannath Nagar in Narendra Kona. Police said a case was registered suo motu and the contraband items, along with other materials, were confiscated from his possession.

Raids Across Puri City

Apart from the Baseli Sahi, police conducted raids on several retail and wholesale gutkha outlets in different police station areas of Puri city. A large quantity of gutkha was seized during the crackdown.

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The Puri Police has been carrying out raids at multiple locations across the city to curb the illegal sale and production of gutkha. The drive continued for two days, and on Wednesday, illegal gutkha was seized from the Kumbharapada and Baseli Sahi areas.

Ban in Force Since 2013

It may be noted that the state government had imposed a complete ban on the sale of gutkha in 2013. However, despite the ban and enforcement of several laws, the product continues to be sold illegally across the state, raising serious health concerns, including cancer.

The Puri SP has strictly directed that the sale of gutkha in the city be stopped at the earliest.