Gandhinagar, Aug 31: Gujarat has extended its ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for another year, with the renewed prohibition coming into effect from September 13, 2026, and remaining in force until September 12, 2027.

The Commissioner of Food Safety issued the notification on August 31, citing public health concerns and representations received from various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The ban has been enforced in Gujarat since 2012 and will continue to cover such products irrespective of the name under which they are marketed.

The order also covers ingredients that are sold separately but are intended to be mixed together to prepare gutkha or pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as the final product.

Authorities have warned that strict legal action will be taken against those found violating the prohibition.

According to the notification, research conducted by Tata Memorial Hospital, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and ‘HAMER’ has indicated that consumption of gutkha and pan masala is carcinogenic and substantially increases the risk of oral cancer.

The notification also refers to findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), according to which 35 per cent of adults in India consume tobacco, while 21 per cent were found to use smokeless tobacco.

The state government said the decision to extend the prohibition was taken in view of the need to protect citizens’ health and following representations from NGOs.

The renewed order will, therefore, continue the restrictions that Gujarat has maintained for more than a decade.

The ban specifically targets gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, as well as separately sold components intended to circumvent the prohibition by being combined later.

Enforcement agencies have been directed to take action against manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of products covered by the notification.

The extension means the existing prohibition will remain in effect without a break, from September 13 this year through September 12, 2027.

Patna, Aug 31: A Dial 112 emergency vehicle driver was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and hitting a cyclist and a motorcycle in Muzaffarpur’s Ramdayalu area on Monday.

The incident, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station, triggered anger among local residents.

Police subsequently took the driver, identified as Santosh Kumar, into custody.

According to police, the detained driver underwent a medical examination, which confirmed alcohol consumption.

Further legal action is being taken in the matter. Meanwhile, the injured cyclist has submitted an application at Sadar Police Station seeking registration of an FIR.

According to preliminary information, Santosh Kumar was driving the Dial 112 vehicle through the Ramdayalu area when it allegedly first struck a cyclist.

The cyclist, Shatrughan Rai, a resident of Baramatpur under the Sadar police station area, sustained serious injuries, including injuries to both legs. The vehicle subsequently collided with a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, identified as Manish Kumar of Chak Chameli village under the Hajipur Sadar police station area of Vaishali district, escaped with minor injuries, but his motorcycle was badly damaged.

The incident led to a gathering of local residents, who raised an alarm and confronted the driver over allegations of drunk driving.

Locals informed the police, following which a Sadar Police team reached the spot and took Santosh Kumar into custody. Manish Kumar said he was travelling from his home in Hajipur to Muzaffarpur when he witnessed the Dial 112 vehicle hit the cyclist.

He said the emergency vehicle then struck his motorcycle with considerable force, causing extensive damage. Manish further alleged that when he and others confronted the driver following the accident, the driver used abusive language.

The situation was subsequently brought under control after police reached the spot and took the driver to the police station.

Muzaffarpur SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra said the incident had come to the police’s notice and that the accused driver was being questioned.

He said further action would be taken in accordance with the law after completion of the investigation and that steps would be taken to seek judicial custody of the accused.

New Delhi, Aug 31: A case involving the sexual assault of a three-year-old nursery student at a private school in Delhi Bawana has come to light. Police have arrested a school bus driver in connection with the incident, officials said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Vikas, had been working as a bus driver at the school for around eight months. According to police, he allegedly befriended the child by offering her chocolates and subsequently sexually abused her on multiple occasions.

Police arrested Vikas from the school premises after the child’s identity and allegations were established during the investigation.

The case came to light on the night of August 19, when the child’s family noticed injury marks on her body and became concerned about her condition.

When the child’s mother questioned her about what had happened, the girl reportedly spoke about a “bad uncle” at her school who used to give her chocolates. As the three-year-old was unable to identify the man by name, the family approached the school administration and sought its help in finding out who the person was.

On August 24, the child was shown photographs of school staff and CCTV footage from the school premises as part of efforts to identify the person she had mentioned. Police said the girl identified Vikas as the man she had referred to as the “bad uncle”.

Following the identification, the school informed the police about the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered under the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following which the accused school bus driver was arrested.

According to the allegations being investigated by police, the accused followed the girl when she was going towards the bathroom. He allegedly offered her chocolates and then touched her inappropriately under the stairs of the school.

During the investigation, police also seized the accused’s mobile phone. Officials said the device contained several videos showing him feeding chocolates to young children.

Police are now working to identify the children seen in those videos. The children are also being counselled as part of the ongoing investigation and to ensure their safety and well-being.

Investigators have also collected and seized CCTV footage from cameras installed at different locations on the school premises. The footage is being examined to establish the sequence of events and determine whether there were any other instances involving the accused.