Man gets 15-yr jail for drug trafficking

In a significant development, Ld Special Judge-II of Kullu, Amit Mandyal, has convicted an individual, Chuveshwar, for his involvement in drug trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

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The convict, a resident of Sanad village in Kullu, has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 15 years and fined Rs 1 lakh. In the event of non-payment of the fine, Chuveshwar will face an additional one year of rigorous imprisonment.

The case dates back to January 13, 2021, when the police received a tip-off about a large quantity of charas being delivered near GharatGad in Banjar. The police team led by then SP Gaurav Singh set up a naka to intercept the drug traffickers.

At 1:45 AM on January 14, 2021, three individuals were spotted carrying sacks on their shoulders, which they abandoned and attempted to flee upon seeing the police.

While two of the suspects managed to escape in the darkness, the police successfully apprehended Chuveshwar. Upon questioning, he named the other two suspects as Pardeep, alias Murali, and Bittu. The sacks discarded by the accused were inspected and a total of 110.90 kg of charas was seized.

Further investigation led to the arrest of an additional suspect, Lot Ram, who was charged under Section 29 of the NDPS Act for conspiring with the main accused and the two absconding individuals. However, the court acquitted Pardeep and Bittu due to lack of sufficient evidence, granting them the benefit of doubt.

The police have expressed satisfaction over the conviction, which marks a significant success in the fight against drug trafficking in the region. Public Prosecutor Anuj Sharma confirmed the details of the case and the court’s ruling.