Early Times Report
Jammu, July 18 : A lady narco-smuggler was today sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment by additional sessions judge, Udhampur, Sonia Gupta.
Kusum, daughter of Lassa alias Farooq Bhatt of Loi Paddar, Kishtwar, was sentenced for offences under section 8 (c) punishable under section 20 (b) (ii) (B) of NDPS Act.
She was on January 11, 2010 travelling in a tempo traveller, which was on its way from Jammu to Kishtwar, when it was stopped for routine checking at Kral nullah check post, Kud, at about 1 pm. During checking, 900 grams of charas was recovered from the polythene bag of the accused.
After hearing the counsel for the accused, the judge said it needed to be put on record that the crime committed by the accused was very serious.
"Narcotic menace is spreading its tentacles throughout the country, posing a grave threat to the youth, who are pillars of the country. Sentence has to be proportionate to the gravity of the crime committed. There is a little scope for exercise of discretion in deciding the quantum of punishment. The courts have to adhere to the principles of law governing the award of sentence, the legislative intent behind NDPS Act and also the impact of awarding sentence. A balance has to be struck between aggravating and mitigating circumstances before awarding the punishment to an accused. So far as NDPS Act is concerned, it is a very stringent legislation and the purpose behind the Act is to thwart the narcotic trafficking. Narcotics, drugs and crime undermine development by eroding social and human capital. This degrades quality of life," she added.
With these observations, the judge awarded four years rigorous imprisonment to the accused, besides imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 on her. The accused was sent to the district jail, Udhampur, for serving the sentence. (JNF) |
