Ban on smokeless tobacco in the interest of public health: UTK

November 14, 2014

Bengaluru, Nov 14: A ban on the sale of smokeless tobacco in Karnataka is imminent, said Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader.

Addressing reporters here on Thursday, he said that the State Health department had proposed to the government to impose the ban in the interest of public health. “Chewing tobacco is one of the main reasons for mouth cancer in the country. India has the highest number of mouth cancer cases. The World Health Organisation has warned the country in this regard.

The department has taken one step forward and the ban will happen sooner or later,” he said. Khader's comments come a day after the State Cabinet deferred taking any decision on the proposal. The ruling Congress does not want to antagonise the tobacco growers in the State.

Asked why the government was hesitating to ban smokeless tobacco, the minister, however, said the government had to consider a number of issues before taking such a decision. The government will take an appropriate decision soon, he said.

Banning the sale of chewing or smokeless tobacco will not affect the growers in the State. Tobacco being grown in the State is of export quality. Chewing tobacco is of low quality and it is grown in other states, he said. The department has also proposed to ban the sale of loose cigarettes. A picture depicting the ill-effects of smoking will be on the cigarette packs and not on cigarettes. So, a ban on loose cigarettes has been proposed, he pointed out.

He said the government would soon launch an air ambulance service to attend to emergency cases. The department has been holding talks with non-government organisations to start the service. The plan is to allow an NGO to provide the service and the government will only facilitate it, he added.

Air Ambulance Service

Air ambulance service will go a long way in saving lives. It took close to six hours for BGS Hospital to take a heart for transplant from Bengaluru to Chennai recently.

It would have been convenient if the State had an air ambulance, he said. Khader held a meeting with the Indian Air Force officials in this regard on Thursday.

Khader said a two-day State-level convention of Ayush doctors would be held on November 22-23 in Mangaluru.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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