Three traders fined for storing banned gutkha

Three local traders were fined Rs 1 lakh each today for storing banned tobacco-based products.

The action incidentally coincided with the World No Tobacco Day.

Shimla Municipal Corporation Health Officer Omesh Bharti fined the traders after over 300 kg of gutkha (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala were seized from them.

The violators were fined under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, he said.

Himachal Pradesh government had imposed a complete ban in the state on the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco-based products on October 2 last year.