Phek, March 19 (MExN): A special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act court has sentenced one person to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for possession of 50 kg ganja.
The District and Sessions Judge, Phek, Mezlvolu T Therieh passed the judgment on March 18, sentencing accused Weshete Lohe to 10 years RI and fine of Rs 1 lakh for possession of the contraband.
Acording to the case proceedings, on June 24, 2019, the Assam Rifles personnel on motor vehicle check post (MVCP) duty discovered 50 kgs of ganja in an abandoned car (Maruti Alto 800) at Razeba Road junction near water point Pfutsero.
The seized contraband was handed over to the Pfutsero Police station where a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged. Subsequently, the accused Weshete Lohe (33) was arrested and samples were sent to the Forensic Science laboratory, Dimapur which confirmed that the contraband was ganja.
According to the public prosecutor, in the case In hand, since the accused was admittedly in exclusive possession of the vehicle till It was seized with the ganja kept Inside, presumption of his culpable mental state strongly exists beyond reasonable doubt..." and ...". it can therefore safely be inferred beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was in possession of 50 kilograms of ganja and he alone had kept it inside the vehicle".”
The accused has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years RI and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, which is the minimum sentence provided under the NDPS Act. The accused, who was on bail was immediately taken into custody and sent to jail for undergoing the sentence.
