Siliguri, 05th March: In a significant development, the Siliguri Court has sentenced three drug peddlers to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act in addition to paying a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The accused have been identified as Umaid Farooq, Muhammad Akhtarul, and Ratan Ray.
The case, dating back to September 28, 2020, unfolded when police officer Basudev Guha from Matigara Police Station apprehended the trio with 1200 grams of brown sugar near City Center in a pickup van. Subsequently, the Siliguri Court initiated proceedings, during which testimony from 13 witnesses was recorded.
After considering witness statements and police charges, the court found all three guilty in Friday. Justice Jitendra Gupta delivered the verdict under the NDPS Act, imposing a 10-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine. Additionally, failure to pay the fine will result in six months of extra imprisonment. Dilip Ray, the government’s counsel in this matter, noted that the court’s decision, coming after three years, marks a significant milestone in the battle against narcotics for the Siliguri Metropolitan Police.