SRINAGAR: A court here on Monday sentenced a Pulwama resident to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed Rs 1 lakh fine on him, a week after convicting him for possessing huge quantity of contraband including over a quintal of "Bangh leaves" and 1.2 kgs Charas,.    

“…convict namely, Abdul Hamid Bhat S/o Mohammad Ismail Bhat R/o Lelhar Kakapora is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lac only) is also imposed,” said Principal Sessions Judge  Pulwama Naseer Ahmad Dar.

“In case of default of payment of fine the convict shall further undergo simple imprisonment of three months,” the court said, as per copy of the quantum order, a copy of which lies with GNS, and ordered that Bhat shall be lodged in Special Jail (Correctional Home) Pulwama for serving the rest of the sentence.

“The period of detention already undergone by the convict during the investigation and trial of the case shall be set off.”

The court observed that a huge quantity of Narcotic drugs has been recovered from the house of convict. 

“The drug abuse and drug peddling is increasing in our society day by day. The legislature had incorporated stringent penal provisions in the NDPS Act with the object to curb this menace,” the court said.

The deterrence is sometimes need of an hour in order to send a message to likeminded people who are indulging in this menace, the court said.

“A murderer can be held guilty for murder of one or few human being but the drug abuse is  taking away precious lives of several human beings on daily basis especially youth of our society who are the most effected by this menace,” the court said, adding, “These accused persons who are indulging in the illicit trade of these drugs are actually responsible for the killing of human beings who die due to consumption of such drugs.”

 Hence, the court said, while passing the sentence upon such accused/convict found guilty under NDPS Act, no leniency should be shown, otherwise the purpose behind incorporation of stringent penal provisions in the Act would be meaningless.

According to the prosecution story, on 7 October 2018, the police station Kakapora received information from a reliable source that Bhat has concealed huge quantity of contraband substance in his residential house at Lelhara Kakapora, for illicit trade. On this, police filed FIR No. 42 of 2018 under sections 8/20 of NDPS Act. Later a police party under the supervision of DySP HQ proceeded towards Bhat's residential house and during the search they recovered nine bags of apparently Bangh leaves besides Charas powder like substance was found in one bag. The contraband substance was weighed in presence of DySP and was found 104.4 Kgs from nine bags while one bag was found containing 1.200 Kgs Charas. Bhat was subsequently arrested.

"The prosecution has been able to establish and prove its case against the accused beyond all shadow of doubt," the court had said while convicting Bhat on March 18, adding, "I accordingly hold the accused namely Abdul Hamid Bhat guilty of the offence punishable u/s 20 of the NDPS Act."  (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan, who had just been released from Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkar Jail after over five years, was rearrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday, The Wire reported quoting family and sources.

Asif was arrested hours after he was brought by family to his home in Batamaloo, Srinagar from Uttar Pradesh. He was jailed under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since 2022.

Asif’s detention was quashed by JK high court in December last year which termed the allegations against him as “unsustainable” and urged the authorities to end his “illegal” detention.

However, as reported by The Wire, the journalist’s  reunion with his family, which includes six-year-old daughter who was an infant when her father was arrested, his ailing parents and wife, was prolonged by over two months due to “procedural delays” under which some detainees, who are set free by the courts, have to reportedly get clearances from the administration before securing their freedom.

The report quoting sources said that after returning to Srinagar, Asif was initially summoned to Srinagar’s Rainawari police station on Thursday evening (February 29) and later arrested in connection with an Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) case filed by Nowhatta police station.

A police official has told The Wire that the journalist was arrested in an old case.

He was first arrested on August 27, 2018, on charges of providing logistical support to the banned militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. Initially detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), additional charges under the PSA were later brought against him.

In April 2022, the High Court granted Sultan bail in the UAPA case, citing a lack of evidence linking him to any militant group.

However, just four days after this order, he was detained under the PSA, prolonging his imprisonment.

Asif’s family consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that he was targeted for his journalistic work. His name surfaced in an FIR related to a gunfight with militants in Srinagar’s Batamaloo, Sultan’s neighbourhood, on August 12, 2018, ETV bharat reported.

Even during his time behind bars, Asif Sultan’s unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity garnered international acclaim.

In 2019, he was honoured with the prestigious annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club of America.

SRINAGAR: A court in Jammu Kashmir’s Kupwara district awarded 20-year rigorous imprisonment to two narcotics smugglers on Tuesday.

In a landmark verdict , the Court of Additional Sessions Judge issued judgment against two individuals involved in a narcotics smuggling case, sentencing them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a rupees two lakh fine for each of the two accused.

The convicted individuals, Syed Ishfaq Shah and Khursheed Ahmad Gojar, both residents of Jabdi Karnah, were arrested in connection with FIR No.56/2019 at Police Station Karnah.

Their arrest followed the recovery of 15 kilograms of brown sugar, obtained from them after their confession in the Karnah area, Kashmir Zone Police said on X.

Further investigation conclusively established that the duo intended to transport the narcotics consignment from Karnah to Punjab.

Police said it was also proven that both smugglers had procured the narcotics consignment from across the Line of Control (LOC) through Bashir Ahmad, who is presently settled in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and is known to be a cousin of Khursheed Ahmed.

Police led the thorough investigation of the case and the legal battle was effectively fought on behalf of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The case was expedited and heard on a fast track basis, with the Pairvi cells, established under the guidance of the Police Headquarters, ensuring the timely presence of witnesses and their testimonies.

The judgment underscores the unwavering commitment of the criminal justice system to combat narcotics smuggling and uphold the law.

The exemplary teamwork exhibited by the investigative agencies and the legal counsel played a crucial role in bringing these narcotics smugglers to justice, police added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Tihar jail superintendent to produce the banned Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader, Muhammad Yasin Malik, via video conferencing only and not in person on August 9, when the appeal moved by NIA seeking the death penalty for him is listed for hearing.

Separatist leader Muhammad Yaseen Malik in currently serving life imprisonment for the alleged role in militant financing in Jammu and Kashmir. 

A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anish Dayal allowed an urgent application moved by Tihar jail authorities to produce Malik through video conferencing.

The court modified its earlier order passed on May 29 issuing production warrants against Malik for August 09.h

The jail authorities had moved the application citing heavy security issues” in producing Malik physically in court.

The Tihar jail authorities, in the application, submitted that Malik has been lodged under the category of very high-risk prisoners and thus, it is imperative that he is not physically produced in order to maintain public order and safety.

Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special NIA court in May last year. He had pleaded guilty in the case and did not contest the charges against him.