Convicts get 10-year RI in 1st BI(EO) case under NDPS Act

GUWAHATI, May 15: In what can be termed as a big triumph for the Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offence), three accused have been convicted with a sentence to rigorous imprisonment for ten years with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each by the Court of the Special Judge, Guwahati for the first time under the NDPS Act, 1985 in connection with a BI(EO) case No.12/2016 U/S-22(C) NDPS Act.

SP, BI(EO) Shyamal Prashad Saikia while addressing a press meet in Guwahati on Monday informed to the media that a police team of BI(EO) headed by Inspector Binay Kalita intercepted a truck bearing registration No.TN-52-B/2133 on NH-31 at about 11 PM near Betkuchi on August 7, 2016. Apparently, the accused trio identified as Mohammed Rafi (42), H. Fazzalu Ahmed (38) and A. S. Bakrudeen (39) were arrested for carrying of contraband phensedyl which came from West Bengal side towards Agartala via Guwahati through NH-31.

On spot interrogation, the accused who were none other than the driver and the handyman of the truck confessed the furtive voyage. On the following day, search was conducted in presence of the executive magistrate, Kamrup (M) and 50 No.s of plastic bags and subsequently, a total 15,000 plastic bottles of phensedyl were seized along with the vehicles and other articles. Samples were drawn from the seized Phensedyl for forensic lab examination and further inventory was also prepared in presence of the executive magistrate.

SP Saikia further shared to the media that an FIR was lodged on August 9, 2016 and a case was registered and investigated by Inspector Prafulla barman. The chemical examination report of the forensic lab stated that the exhibits gave positive test for codeine and the amount of codeine phosphate in each exhibit was found to be 185.6 mg which is considered to be injurious to human health. Hence, the accused were found guilty of committing the crime. In the mean time, the intercepted vehicle is kept in the BI(EO), Assam campus. It is pertinent to mention here that the all three accused hailed from the same locality of Rasipuram police station of Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu.