2 UP-based peddlers sent to 10-year jail

Ludhiana: Two drug peddlers, who were arrested with 1,580 kg poppy husk in October 2016, have been awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment.

The court of additional sessions judge Amar Paul also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on convicts — Rohit Kumar, 23, and Mohit Kumar, 22, both from Muradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

In default of payment of fine, they will have to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a year.

On October 4, 2016, City Raikot police had arrested Rohit and Mohit under the NDPS Act with 79 bags of 22 kg each of poppy husk. The consignment was sent through a truck by Rajvir Gupta of Bareili in UP, who owned a petrol pump at Karamchand Nagar Mini Bypass. Rajvir was later declared a proclaimed offender in the case.

Police had received information that Rajvir used to buy poppy husk in huge quantity and sold the same in Bareili and other places at higher prices.

On October 4, police had intercepted the truck (HR63-A-3193) carrying a huge quantity of poppy husk and coming towards Ludhiana and arrested Rohit and Mohit.

Police later produced a chargesheet against the accused in the court.

During the trial, the accused pleaded false implication. The counsel for the accused pleaded that no independent witness joined the investigation.

The court turned down the plea of the defence, observing that when the recovery of poppy husk was effected in the night, non-joining of independent witness has no effect on the case.

The court also observed that when there is no enmity or malice between the accused and the police official or prosecution witnesses, then there is neither any need nor any compelling circumstances for the police to falsely implicate the accused persons. “Moreover, police officials in all circumstances are not supposed to falsely implicate any innocent person as alleged by the accused persons without any reason,” the court added.