Mizo Govt Mulling Powers To Police to Prosecute Smokers

Aizawl, Jun 2 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today said the state government has been contemplating on giving powers to the police to arrest and fine those who smoke in prohibited places.

Speaking at a function in Aizawl on the observation of the World No Tobacco Day, Lal Thanhawla said the government was mulling giving authority to all ranks of the police to prosecute smokers who smoke in public places.

He lamented that 67 per cent of the people of Mizoram were using tobacco and tobacco products resulting in the state having the shameful distinction of being the highest incidence of cancer in the country.

This year's theme of the World No Tobacco Day was 'Stop Illicit Trade of Tobacco products' and the day was observed today in the Christian-dominated Mizoram as it fell on Sunday.