Special Judge of NDPS, Bishnupur, W Tonen on Thursday sentenced two women, convicted for illegal possession of 13 kgs of opium, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment under section 18(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985. The judge also ordered them to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each within the next five years.
The two women, identified as Kimkim Haokip, aged about 50 years, wife of Heliry Haokip of Pangmol village, Kangpokpi district and Hevah Vaiphei, aged about 49 years, wife of Henthang Vaiphei of Pangmol village, Kangpokpi district were sentenced under section 29 punishable under section 18(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
They were arrested with 13 Kg of opium from Nachou Lamkhai area, Bishnupur district by NAB team on July 6, 2019 and then convicted on April 29, 2022 under section 18(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985 by the court.
During the sentence hearing, the Special PP submitted that since the two offenders have been found guilty of the offences punishable under section 18(b) read with section 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 and since the unauthorized possession of 13 Kg of opium is a huge quantity and being commercial quantity and since the drugs causes nationwide impact affecting human lives to the large number of citizens of India, they may be given rigorous imprisonment of 20 years with fine of Rs 2 lakhs each so that any citizen of India may not commit such heinous offences in future.
It also submitted that two accused faced high risk, high gain of trafficking of such a large amount of 13 Kgs of opium at the time of commission of such offences. The Special PP further submitted that by such commission of narcotic drugs offences, it causes health problems impairing family life, diminishing the quality of life and threatening survival also.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the two prayed for minimum sentence period since it is the first offense in their lives and since they have pleaded guilty without much time to have committed the offences at the time of framing charge. Referring to section 32(b) of the ND&PS Act, 1985, regarding the imposition of punishment higher than the minimum is to be considered as enumerated in the section while passing sentence, the counsel prayed.
The Counsel further submitted that they have families and considering this fact, leniency be shown to the two convicts. Moreover, they are scheduled tribes of Manipur with no regular sources of income and they are living hand to mouth in the present day to day life, the counsel prayed.
The court, after hearing the submission, announced 14 years rigorous imprisonment with fine and made it clear that both the convicts should give such a fine of Rs.1 lakh each within a period of 5 years from today, failing which both the convicts shall undergo RI for a period of 6 months.
