Jammu October-19-2023:- Principal District & Session judge Udhampur Haq Nawaz Zargar today awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to two Punjab based narco smugglers namely Harjinder Singh and Semarjeet Singh under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Accused Harjinder Singh r/o Lane no. 5, Mao Sahib, Phillour, Bilga District Jalandhar Punjab and Semarjeet Singh r/o Talban, Tehsil Phillour, District Jalandhar Punjab were nabbed by Nakka Party at Jakhani Udhampur on Jammu Srinagar Highway while transporting poppy straw in commercial quantity weighing 126.5 Kgs in 07 plastic bags of white colour in a Tata Mobile bearing registration No. PB08EB-1537 from Srinagar towards Punjab on 15.10.2018.
After investigation the challan was filed against the above named accused persons in the court on 31.12.2018 and on 27.05.2019 accused persons facing the trial were formally charged for the commission of offence punishable under sections 8 r/w 15 (c), 29 of NDPS Act in light of the material on record.
Public Prosecutor Koshal Kotwal appeared for the state and to prove the charges prosecution has examined as many as 10 witnesses and one witness was dropped by the prosecution and five witnesses were admitted by the defense counsel.
While awarding sentence, Principal Sessions Judge Udhampur Haq Nawaz Zargar observed, that it cannot be lost sight of which both the convicts have been held guilty is heinous and encompasses the society as a whole under its sweep particularly the youngsters and other vulnerable sections of the society. Thus, showing any leniency to the guilty convicts will amount to doing cruelty to the innocent public/ persons including children who will likely to be affected by this menace. Considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances court awarded sentence to both accused . Accused Harjinder Singh resident of Lane no. 5, Mao Sahib, Phillour, Bilga District Jalandhar Punjab is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for Ten years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1.00 lakh for commission of offence under sections 8/15 NDPS Act and similarly other convict namely Semarjeet Singh Son of Kewal Singh resident of Talban, Tehsil Phillour, District Jalandhar Punjab is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for Ten years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1.00 lakh for commission of offence under sections 8/15 NDPS Act. In case of failure of both the convicts to pay the fine, they shall further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. JNF