Anantnag, May 15: The District and Sessions Court Anantnag on Thursday sentenced five drug peddlers, including a husband-wife duo, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them.
Principal Sessions Judge Anantnag, Manzoor Ahmad, delivered the sentence after the accused were convicted under Sections 8/20(c) read with Section 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The case pertains to FIR No. 63/2022 registered at Police Station Kokernag for the illegal possession and trafficking of 5 kilograms of charas—classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act.
Those convicted include Mohammad Rafiq Bhat, son of Mohammad Jamal Bhat; Anayat Ullah Bhat, son of Mohammad Rafiq Bhat; Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat; Mubeena Banoo, wife of Mohammad Rafiq Bhat — residents of Soaf Shali, Kokernag; and Sajad Ahmad Ganie, son of Gul Mohammad Ganie) of Hangal Gund, Kokernag.
The judgment of conviction was delivered on May 7, 2025, with arguments on the quantum of punishment concluded on May 10. The court observed that the offence involved a commercial quantity of contraband, which under Section 20(c) of the NDPS Act carries a minimum sentence of 10 years, extendable up to 20 years.
While acknowledging the gravity of the offence and its impact on society, the court also considered mitigating factors such as the socio-economic background of the convicts, lack of prior criminal records, absence of violence or coercion, and good conduct in jail. Balancing these aspects, the court decided to impose the minimum statutory punishment.
“In case of default in payment of fine, the convicts shall further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year each,” the order reads.
The sentence was pronounced in open court via video conferencing, with the convicts produced virtually from District Jail Bhaderwah and Central Jail Srinagar, where they are currently lodged. They will continue to serve their sentence in the respective jails.
The court also directed that the period of detention already undergone during investigation and trial shall be set off against the total sentence. Warrants of sentence will be issued accordingly.
The sentencing order forms part of the judgment dated May 7, 2025, under Section 363 of the CrPC. Copies of the judgment and sentence will be provided free of cost to the convicts and forwarded to the concerned District Magistrate as per Section 365 of the CrPC.
