Punjab farmer gets 10-year jail for carrying 2kg heroin

A Delhi court has awarded ten years rigorous jail term to a Punjab-based farmer man who was found carrying two kilograms of heroin here in 2004.

"Gurmeet Lal was involved in the case of trafficking 2kg of heroin. The effect of consumption of heroin on the society is disastrous. It eats away the life and vigour in the society," additional sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain said.

Convicting Lal, who was slapped with a fine of Rs2 lakh, under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which deal, the court said "illegal trade of such a high quantity heroin would have adverse impact on the lives of innumerable persons."

Earlier, special prosecutor B S Arora, arguing for Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), sought a deterrent punishment for Lal saying "it would send a right message to potential offenders."

Lal, 57, a Punjab-based farmer, was arrested on August 5, 2004 at an inter-state bus terminal here by NCB following a tip-off that he would come to deliver heroin to his Delhi-based consumers.

NCB recovered commercial quantity of heroin from him and its purity was established by scientific test. Two others, who were with Lal at the time of his arrest, were not booked by NCB for want of evidence. NCB examined nine witnesses to prove its case.