Unauthorised Hookah parlors in Hyderabad were raided last night by the police.
The raids were conducted jointly by the West Zone police and Banjara Hills police. They arrested 30 men and women in such raid on a hookah parlor at Road No.10, Banjara Hills on Sunday night.
The centers are alluring youth by drowning them in a dream world to which minors are also getting addicted. Although there is no specific law to book them, section 21 and 76 of City Police Act are invoked that prescribes a punishment of imprisonment for 3 months and a fine of Rs.100/-.
But, an advocate says, they are getting away with an imprisonment for a day or two. Police consider the laws related to cigarette and tobacco products but even those laws do not allow sever punishments.
Police are also Section 41 and 102 of Criminal Procedure Code to seize the articles in the Hookah Centers so that the activity at least will come to a halt with that at that center.
-SriJa
