Agartala: Alarmed at the high incidence of cancer and tobacco and drug-related diseases in the state, the Tripura government has decided to punish those using tobacco in public places, officials said here Friday.
The government will also continue its drive against excessive use of tobacco products for their ill-effects and to curb drug abuse, officials said.
Senior officials of health, drug control, police and education departments, elected representatives and NGO delegates attended the meeting.
Tripura state tobacco control cell nodal officer Gautam Majumder said that tobacco causes 50 percent of cancer cases in India. (IANS)