New Delhi: After meat and liquor, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has now banned sale and consumption of tobacco products in the holy town of Katra, where cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is situated. Sale, possession and consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products has been banned by the Jammu administration. The administration has been taken the decision with the aim of maintaining the sanctity of the holy place. 

Reasi District Magistrate Vishesh Mahajan said the initiative, launched on the World No-Tobacco Day, aims to maintain the sanctity of the religious place visited by lakhs of pilgrim every year. The administration has already banned the sale, possession, and consumption of meat and liquor in Katra and adjoining areas.

"Under Section 144, we have imposed a ban on the stocking, sale, and consumption of cigarettes, gutkha and other forms of tobacco in the area starting from Numaee and Panthal check posts via Tara Court track up to Bhavan," said Vishesh Mahajan, as quoted by PTI.  "The ban is an extension of the existing prohibition on the sale and consumption of liquor and meat," he said.

Mahajan said the move aims to keep the Katra base camp, the track and the entire area tobacco free. Katra has been witnessing a daily footfall of 30,000-40,000 pilgrims.

(With PTI inputs)