Telangana State police to change its policy towards hookah parlours
Instead of raiding the parlours, special teams have been formed to collect samples from hookah dens
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-25 02:15 GMT
Hyderabad:The city police has decided to change their approach towards hookah parlours. Instead of raiding the parlours for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, special teams have been formed to collect samples from hookah dens. They will be tested for drugs, and if a report is positive, action would be initiated against the management.
Following the directions of police commissioner M. Mahendar Reddy, Central Crime Station (CCS) officials have formed three special teams. There are close to 45 hookah centers in the West Zone and the special teams will keep tabs on them.
The local Station House Officer (SHO) will also accompany the team to the centres. Unlike earlier, cops said there will not be raids as police teams create panic among customers. Samples of the hookah flavours used for smoking like kiwi, mint and other flavorus will be collected.
“Police teams will silently collect samples of the hookah. They won’t search or question anyone. Thus it won’t be a disturbance to customers,” said Mr V. Satyanarayana, the West Zone DCP. The samples collected will be sent for testing to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). If any hookah centre is found supplying drugs, cases will be booked against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
“If a report is positive, a case will be slapped and the owner and managers will be arrested. The centre will also be seized,” Mr Satyanarayana said. Officials said unlike raids, the checks will be conducted regularly to control the use of drugs in the city.