Hookah parlours raided, cases booked

Hyderabad: With intent to create awareness and educate the citizens about the ill-effects of consumption of hookah, the Hyderabad City Police started a drive against hookah parlors and booked cases against the parlors’ managements for allowing minors. Following a report published in an UK-based online Medical Journal, the police launched raids on hookah parlors located in West Zone of Hyderabad on Saturday night.

Teams led by west zone DCP A Venkateshwara Rao raided as many as 51 hookah parlors in Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and their neighboring areas and detained over 120 persons. However, the detainees were later counseled and let free, cases have been booked against 21 parlors for breaking the rules and allowing minors to consume hookah.

Speaking to The Hans India, DCP Venkateshwara Rao said “Though hookah and cigarettes are not banned in the State, it is our responsibility to educate the citizens on their hazardous effects.” The DCP said, according to a study conducted on the ill-effects of hookah by a medical journal, a session (approximately one hour) of hookah is several times harmful that smoking.

“The research says, one session of hookah delivers about 125 times the smoke, 25 times the tar, about two times the nicotine and 10 times the Carbon Monoxide to that of a single cigarette,” the DCP said referring to the journal. To bring awareness among the youngsters and especially students, raids have been conducted on the hookah parlors. The detainees were all counseled and let free later. Cases have been booked against the parlors’ managements for allowing minors, the DCP said.