Hyderabad, April 18 -- To curb the sale of nicotine-based substances to schoolchildren, police on Saturday, April 18, conducted search operations at more than 550 pan shops located near educational institutions across Hyderabad under the Safe School program.

Around 5,000 police personnel, split into 500 teams, searched pan shops located around 100 yards from schools in areas including Puranapul, Aghapura, Habeebnagar, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Kalapather, Charminar, Pathergatti, Golconda, Goshamahal, Chandrayangutta, Balapur, Uppuguda, Shaheennagar, Borabanda and other localities.

Hailing the operation as a success, Hyderabad City Commissioner of Police, VC Sajjanar, warned shop owners to discourage selling tobacco-based substances like cig...