Two women drug peddlers get 14-yr RI
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 05 2022: Special Judge (ND&PS) Court, Bishnupur on Thursday sentenced two women who were arrested by a NAB team with 13 kg of opium (kani) in 2019, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment along with imposition of fine of Rs 1 lakh each.

During the sentence hearing conducted on Thursday, the Special PP submitted to the court that the two convicts, Kimkim Haokip (50) w/o Heliry Haokip and Hevai Vaiphei (49) w/o Henthang Vaiphei, both residents of Pangmol village, Kangpokpi, were carrying the 13kg of opium with the objective of peddling it.

Considering the terrifying impact of drugs in the society, the Special PP made an appeal to the Court to sentence the two convicts to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with fine of Rs 2 lakh each.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel of the convicts submitted to the Court that this was the first offence committed by both of them and the two also confessed to the crime before the charges were framed against them.

As such, the counsel prayed for leniency and awarding minimum punishment possible.

The defence counsel further informed the Court that Kimkim Haokip is a mother of six children and works as a vegetable vendor.

Apart from being the sole breadwinner, she is also a diabetic and BP patient.

Hevai Vaiphei is a mother of 5 kids and works as vegetable vendor to provide for her family.

She is also a heart patient, elaborated the counsel urged the Court to direct the jail authority to provide additional medical assistance to both of them.

After listening to the submissions, the Court sentenced the two convicts to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and ordered them to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each within 5 years.

If they are unable to pay the fines, they will have to serve another 6 months of rigorous imprisonment.

The time the two convicts stayed in jail during the trial period will be commuted from the total sentence period.

It further ordered for the opium seized from the two convicts to be disposed of as per the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985, after the expiry of appeal period.

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