| "Drug trade spoils youth, fuels anti-national designs" | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 21: The Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Ganderbal, Abdul Nasir, has sentenced Abdul Gani Sheikh of Wanihama Bala to five years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 in an NDPS case involving 8 kg ganja (cannabis plant material).
As per the prosecution, the accused was intercepted during a naka checking at Pandach crossing on October 27, 2017 while carrying two bags. Police said he tried to flee but was apprehended, and the bags were found containing contraband, later weighed at about 8 kg and sent for forensic examination.
The court, in its judgment dated January 20, 2026, held that the recovery amounted to an intermediate quantity and convicted the accused under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act.
While hearing arguments on sentence, the prosecution pressed for maximum punishment, arguing that such offences have "deep-rooted repercussions" on society, especially youth.
The court noted that, from the record, it was satisfied there was pre-planning, observing that the convict was carrying ganja to sell it among youth to make them drug-addicted. It further observed that if such activities succeed, the youth and future generation would be spoiled, and added that money earned from the drug trade is "being manipulated and used against the nation and the society", warranting curbing such acts "with an iron hand."
At the same time, the court recorded mitigating circumstances raised by the defence-stating the convict is a first-time offender, around 75 years old, suffering from ailments, and had already remained in custody for 32 days-and therefore awarded five years' RI with fine.
The court ordered that the 32 days already undergone be set off against the sentence, and ruled that in case the fine is not deposited, the convict will undergo one month's additional rigorous imprisonment.
—(JNF) |
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