In a significant judgment in an NDPS case, the District and Sessions Court in Belonia of South Tripura district has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for possessing 29.6 kg of dry Ganja. This is reportedly the first time that such a stringent sentence has been handed down in an NDPS case in Belonia.
South Tripura District Special Sessions Judge Gobinda Das pronounced the judgment on Friday, convicting Keshab Lal Das alias Keshab and sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with the fine. In default of payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional six months of imprisonment.
The case dates back to April 12, 2025, when Keshab Lal Das, a resident of the Radhanagar Jahar Tila area under P.R. Bari police station of South Tripura, was travelling from Ghosh-Khamar towards Radhanagar carrying a sack on his shoulder. PR Bari police stopped him on suspicion and conducted a search, during which 29.6 kg of dry Ganja was recovered from his possession.
Following the seizure, SI Nirmal Debbarma lodged a case at the police station. The case was registered as P.R. Bari PS Case No. 15/25 under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act.
SI Sujit Sarkar was the first Investigating Officer, while the second IO, SI Shishu Kumar Debbarma, subsequently submitted the charge sheet before the court.
After a prolonged trial and examination of 14 witnesses, the Special Judge found the accused guilty and pronounced the sentence on Friday. The case was conducted by advocate Subrata Bhattacharya.
The judgment has been welcomed by the police administration. Legal observers believe that the stringent punishment may send a strong message to those involved in the trafficking of narcotic substances and act as a deterrent to drug-related offences in the region.