Ludhiana: A local court has sentenced a Kashmiri man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a drug peddling case. A fine of Rs 1,00,000 has also been imposed on the convict, Wasim Ahmad Lone. In case of default in fine payment, he will have to undergo another one year of rigorous imprisonment.On November 14, 2017, Sadar police had booked Wasim, 33, and Bilal Ahmad Lone, both residents of Kulgam district, under Section 15 of the NDPS Act after 106 kilograms of poppy husk were recovered from their possession.As per prosecution, a police party was on patrol at T-point on Jhande road. On seeing the police, two men sitting on three fruit boxes tried to flee. They were chased and nabbed from Jhande village. During checking, police recovered 30 kilograms of poppy husk from three polythene bags hidden in fruit boxes. Following their interrogation, the police recovered another nine boxes containing 76 kilograms of poppy husk that the duo had hid at a cold storage for farmers in Salem Tabri.After Bilal jumped bail, he was declared a proclaimed offender.During the case trial, Wasim pleaded innocence.The prosecution sought punishment to the accused on the basis of prosecution evidence.The defence counsel contended that the prosecution has failed to bring an independent witness. As such, the case of the prosecution becomes doubtful and accused deserves acquittal on this score.The court observed, “Due to non-examination of independent witness, the evidence of official witnesses cannot be distrusted and disbelieved.”Turning down the defence plea that nothing was recovered from the accused and he had been implicated, the court said, “The accused has provided no evidence to prove this. Besides, the accused has not alleged any ill-will or enmity with the police. Therefore, there was no reason for the police to implicate him in this case.”

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