 Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 3: In a significant judgment reinforcing the fight against narcotics, the Special Court (NDPS Cases), Jammu, presided over by Judge Y.P. Sharma, has awarded 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Ghulam Mustafa Khan, a resident of Wan Gund, Qazigund, District Anantnag, in a 2022 drug trafficking case investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Jammu Zonal Unit. The conviction follows an extensive trial in Complaint No. 13/2022 (UOI vs. Ghulam Mustafa Khan), where the court had earlier, on October 31, 2025, held the accused guilty under Sections 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
According to the case, on January 14, 2022, acting on specific intelligence, the NCB Jammu team led by Intelligence Officer Vijay Kumar intercepted a public transport bus (JK02AE-4161) at Ban Toll Plaza, Jammu, and recovered 2.4 kilograms of Charas from a blue-and-black bag belonging to the accused. The substance was later confirmed as Charas by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL), New Delhi, containing 6% THC.
During the trial, the prosecution produced multiple witnesses, including investigating officers and chemical experts, who substantiated the recovery, chain of custody, and chemical examination. The court found the prosecution’s evidence credible and held that the accused failed to rebut the statutory presumption of possession under Section 54 of the NDPS Act.
While pronouncing the sentence, the court observed that drug traffickers pose a serious threat to society and youth, and stringent punishment is necessary to deter such crimes. The court further emphasized that narcotics offences are not ordinary crimes but acts that corrode the social fabric and endanger generations. (JNF) |
