Manipur court sentences drug peddler to 10 years in prison

Imphal: A special court in Manipur has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh in connection with two drug-related cases.

The sentencing took place on Thursday in the Court of Special Judge Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS).

The convict, Md Abdul Kalam, 40, a resident of Churachandpur Old Bazaar, was handed a decade-long prison term under the NDPS Act of 1985.

Kalam was arrested on February 22, 2015, by Imphal City police, who seized contraband drugs from him near Naga Nullah, close to Kasturi Bridge in Imphal.

Following his conviction on August 6, 2024, Kalam was brought before the court on Thursday for sentencing.

The hearing took place at the Manipur Central Jail in Sajiwa, Imphal East district, where he has been held.

During the proceedings, the defense counsel argued that Kalam was a first-time offender with no prior criminal record and had struggled with drug addiction. They requested a minimum sentence on these grounds.

However, after considering submissions from both the Special Public Prosecutor and the defense, the court sentenced Kalam to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 21(c) of the NDPS Act.

In addition, he was fined Rs 1 lakh. The court also imposed a separate sentence of five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 22(b) of the NDPS Act. The sentences will run concurrently.

Kalam has been ordered to pay the total fine of Rs 1.5 lakh within six months. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional year of rigorous imprisonment. The court also ruled that the time Kalam spent in judicial custody during the investigation and trial would be deducted from his sentence.