April 10: Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) today seized a substantial number of gutkha packets from two shops in Fancy Bazar.
The state government had issued a notification under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, banning the product for one year.
The NSUI activists, led by Assam state unit vice-president Arup Talukdar and Durlav Talukdar, who contested for the national delegate post, went to Fancy Bazar today and seized the gutkha packets.
City senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anand Prakash Tiwari personally rushed to the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Durlav Talukdar said the gutkha was being sold in packets of Rajanigandha paan masala. “We requested the police and other government officials who were present to keep a sharp eye on the shops in the city so that gutkha is not sold in any way.”
“One of the shops from where we seized the gutkha packets belonged to a BJP leader,” Durlav said.
Sources said gutkha is now also being sold in packets of spices. “Thanks to the ban, gutkha has now gone into the black market. Gutkha is now sold at much higher prices — up to Rs 5 per packet,” a source said.
NSUI members said they would continue anti-gutkha drives in the future to help make Assam a gutkha-free state. “We want the state to be gutka-free. Today, the SSP requested us to inform him through SMS if we come to know about any shop selling gutka,” Durlav said.
The state government had issued a notification under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, banning the product for one year.
The NSUI activists, led by Assam state unit vice-president Arup Talukdar and Durlav Talukdar, who contested for the national delegate post, went to Fancy Bazar today and seized the gutkha packets.
City senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anand Prakash Tiwari personally rushed to the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Durlav Talukdar said the gutkha was being sold in packets of Rajanigandha paan masala. “We requested the police and other government officials who were present to keep a sharp eye on the shops in the city so that gutkha is not sold in any way.”
“One of the shops from where we seized the gutkha packets belonged to a BJP leader,” Durlav said.
Sources said gutkha is now also being sold in packets of spices. “Thanks to the ban, gutkha has now gone into the black market. Gutkha is now sold at much higher prices — up to Rs 5 per packet,” a source said.
NSUI members said they would continue anti-gutkha drives in the future to help make Assam a gutkha-free state. “We want the state to be gutka-free. Today, the SSP requested us to inform him through SMS if we come to know about any shop selling gutka,” Durlav said.
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