Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 10: A local court sentenced a man to 12 years rigorous imprisonment and acquitted another one under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for possessing poppy straw.
Principal District and Sessions Judge, Sanjay Parihar awarded the sentence to Manjeet Singh, son of Darshan Singh, resident of Jhandoli, Tehsil Garh Shankar, district Hoshiyarpur, Punjab after convicting him under section 8/15 NDPS Act .
On February 16, 2016 Police during routine checking on Jammu Srinagar Highway near Kud intercepted a truck bearing registration number PB08R/9348, and on checking police found seven bags loaded in its tool box kept underneath Tarpal which apparently contained 82 kilogram poppy straw and on inquiry driver failed to justify carrying such contraband.
Police registered FIR against the accused Manjeet Singh, son of Darshan Singh and Sukhjeet Singh, son of Dilbag Singh, both residents of Garh Shankar, Hoshiyarpur Punjab under section 08/15 NDPS Act at Kud police station.
Delivering judgment, the Judge said that there is enormous increase in cases under narcotics and drug abuse daily. It is also true that more and more young people are being influenced to go for drug addiction which is destroying the social fabric of social strata. Judgment said that there is nothing on the record of the file to suggest that accused is habitual of commission of such acts rather is proved to be first offender. He is stated to be the only bread earner of the family. Once a crime is committed, the offender is to be sentenced which is commensurate to the nature of the crime committed by him.
As such accused Manjeet Singh has been held guilty of commission of offence under section 08/15 NDPS Act is therefore, convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of 12 years and fine of rupees one lakh in default of fine accused shall undergo further imprisonment of one year , beside period of detention undergone during stages of investigation and trail shall be set of as against whole period of sentence.
However, judge acquitted accused Sukhjeet Singh as there is no evidence to prove that he was holding conscious possession of the said quantity of poppy straw, charge against him is found to be not proved.
Public Prosecutor Navneet Gupta appeared for the state while Advocate Amjad Khan with Aashiq Khan appeared for accused.
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