3500 kgs cigarettes airlifted from Delhi to Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 18 (UNI) Even as people in Kashmir are facing acute shortage of fresh vegetables, milk and other eatables due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway for the past eight days, over three thousand kgs of cigarettes were airlifted from Delhi to Kashmir.

A report said about 3500 kilograms of cigarettes of different brands were shipped by air to Kashmir valley, which is being considered to have the largest number of smokers in the country.

Official sources said the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Department confiscated 3500 kg of cigarettes at Srinagar airport which were imported from Delhi without paying excise duty.

They said the seizure of the cigarettes was made following a tip off that a company was importing different brands in small packs of ten kg to 15 kg by air through different airlines.

Later, a team of excise department raided a cargo office at the airport and recovered the cigarette consignments.

They said the dealer got the confiscated consignment released after paying the penalty and other taxes.

The additional toll tax along with penalty worth thousands of rupees was recovered from the concerned, the Excise officials who released the consignment, said.

The dealer has said that due to closure of the Srinagar- Jammu Highway, he had airlifted the cigarettes.

Doctors in Kashmir said that majority people in the Kashmir are suffering from lung, mouth and abdoman cancer because of widespread cigarette smoking.

UNI