Court Awards drug peddler 10 years imprisonment, imposes Rs 1 Lakh fine
A Pulwama court has handed down a significant sentence to a local resident, Abdul Hamid Bhat, for his involvement in drug peddling. Bhat has been sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 1 lakh for possessing a substantial quantity of contraband, including over a quintal of “Bangh leaves” and 1.2 kgs of Charas.
Principal Sessions Judge Pulwama, Naseer Ahmad Dar, presiding over the case, imposed the sentence and fine on Bhat. In case of failure to pay the fine, Bhat faces an additional three months of simple imprisonment. He will serve his sentence in the Special Jail (Correctional Home) Pulwama.
The court noted the severity of Bhat’s crime, highlighting the increasing prevalence of drug abuse and peddling in society. It emphasized the need for deterrence to curb this menace, stating that leniency towards offenders would undermine the purpose of stringent penal provisions in the NDPS Act.
The judgment underscored the devastating impact of drug abuse, particularly on the youth, and likened drug peddlers to perpetrators of murder due to the loss of lives caused by drug consumption. The court emphasized the importance of imposing strict sentences on individuals involved in the illicit drug trade to deter others.
According to the prosecution, the case against Bhat was built on solid evidence, including information received from a reliable source and the recovery of a significant quantity of contraband during a police raid on his residence in Lelhara Kakapora.
Bhat’s conviction under the NDPS Act sends a strong message about the judiciary’s commitment to combating drug-related crimes. The verdict serves as a reminder of the grave consequences awaiting those who engage in drug peddling, contributing to the efforts to create a safer and drug-free society.
