Samba, Sep 19: The Special Court under the NDPS Act at Samba, presided over by Principal Sessions Judge R.N. Watal, has convicted two Punjab residents, Harjit Singh and Raj Kumar, in connection with the trafficking of commercial quantity of narcotic drugs in a case investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jammu Zonal Unit.

The case, registered as Crime No. 07/2020, was based on credible information about the involvement of the convicts in the sale and purchase of narcotics, which form part of a wider drug trafficking network operating across state borders. After a full trial, both were found guilty of offences punishable under Sections 8(c)/20(c)/60 of the NDPS Act.

During arguments on the quantum of sentence,  Bhupinder Singh  Charak, Special Public Prosecutor for NCB Samba , highlighted that drug trafficking is not merely an individual crime but an organised and systematic activity that destroys youth, destabilizes families and tears apart the social fabric. He submitted that such crimes must attract deterrent punishment to protect society.

The defence counsels, Iqbal Hussain Bhat for Harjit Singh and Nisha Rani, Chief Defence Legal Aid Counsel, assisted by  Suman Bhagat, Deputy LADC, for Raj Kumar, pleaded for leniency on humanitarian grounds, citing their youth and family responsibilities.

After considering rival submissions, the Court observed that drug trafficking is a heinous crime against society, and that offenders engaged in the narcotics trade act as “suppliers of poison” to the younger generation. The Court further noted that such crimes are often linked to organized drug syndicates, which deliberately exploit vulnerable individuals to perpetuate their illegal business.

Accordingly, both convicts were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment each and a fine of Rs 1,00,000 each, with an additional one year rigorous imprisonment in default of fine. The Court also directed that the period of custody already undergone during the trial shall be set off against the awarded sentence. The convicts have been lodged in District Jail, Amphalla, Jammu to serve the remainder of their term.

“Those indulging in organized drug trafficking shall face no sympathy of the Court. The menace of narcotics must be dealt with an iron hand to safeguard the youth and protect the society at large.”

The judgment reaffirms the judiciary’s firm stand that drug trafficking is a grave offence against the community and calls for strong measures to dismantle the networks that fuel the drug menace.

Poonch, Sep 19: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have trapped and arrested a Patwari of Patwar Halqa Shahpur, Poonch for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the spokesman said that Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped and arrested Jameel Ahmed Bhat, Patwari of Patwar Halqa Shahpur, District Poonch, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

“The action followed a written complaint received by the ACB, alleging that the complainant’s house was damaged during recent heavy rainfall. A report regarding the damage had been filed at Police Station Poonch. When the complainant approached the concerned Patwari, Jameel Ahmed Bhat, along with the police report and completed application forms for compensation, the Patwari allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for processing the case,” the spokesman said.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant—being financially constrained—approached the ACB and filed a formal complaint seeking legal action against the accused, the statement reads.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the ACB said that a case under FIR number 06/2025 was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and an investigation was initiated.

“During the course of investigation, a team from ACB Rajouri laid a trap and caught the accused Patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 15,000 from the complainant. He was immediately arrested on the spot. Subsequent searches were also conducted at his residential premises,” the statement reads, adding that further investigation in the case is underway.

R S Pura (Jammu), Sep 19: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday visited flood-hit farms in the Basmati-rich R S Pura border area of Jammu and Kashmir and assured the affected farmers that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blessings, the central and state governments would take all necessary steps to restore their livelihoods and bring them out of this disaster.

Thousands of hectares of land in Jammu, particularly in R S Pura area, were badly affected due to floods triggered by heavy rains at the end of August.

“I have come here to tell you that the central government, together with the state government and with the blessings of the prime minister, will pull the farmers out of this disaster. Your pain is our pain, your suffering is our suffering,” Chouhan told farmers in Gram Badyal Brahmin in R S Pura.

Flanked by a high-level team of his ministry, Chouhan went from one area to another to inspect the crops and fields in the border belt and said, “I have come to say, do not shed tears. Whenever there were tears in your eyes, we too were pained.

“We will work hard together again. Not only Rajnath Ji or Amit Ji have come, but the teams of the central government have also reached out to you here.”

Asserting that he had come to share their pain, the minister said, “I have not come here as a minister to meet you formally. I have come as a humble servant. When a farmer’s crop is destroyed, it is not only the crop that is lost but his future and his children’s future too. We will pull you out of this disaster.”

Chouhan, who inspected fields where sand deposits had flattened standing crops, said teams from the Centre and the state had carried out surveys and would submit reports to determine losses. “We saw fields covered with layers of sand where crops once waved — vegetables, basmati, maize — everything has been buried,” he said.

“You can understand the concern of the prime minister. You know what he feels for you. Many ministers have already come here; recently Rajnath Singh Ji and Amit Shah Ji also came, and today, as the Agriculture Minister, I have come before you,” he said.

The minister said the Centre would not spare any effort to provide relief once assessment reports from central teams were received.

The team of the central government, which included officers from all departments, has come here and conducted a survey, he said, adding, “After conducting the survey, the team will give its report. The state government’s own report will also come. The assessment of losses is ongoing.”

He further added that after the report comes, the central government will leave no stone unturned in providing relief, because Jammu and Kashmir is the forehead of this country. “We will fight the trouble and bring you out of this crisis.”

He maintained that there are some tasks which the state government has to do, and in times of disaster, politics should not be done. “Our first task will be to take the farmers out of this trouble and restore their normal lives,” he added.

The Union minister said that the state government must decide that wherever sand has been deposited in people’s fields, that sand should be given to the person owning that land. “I will also discuss this with the chief minister. The sand should be given to the farmer himself, so that the farmer can sell it or remove it and once again make the land cultivable.”

Chouhan noted that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has provisions to remove sand and the Centre would coordinate with the state to implement that plan.

He also said he would discuss the matter with the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and other state officials to fast-track relief measures.

Acknowledging immediate relief already announced by the state, Chouhan said he was aware that the chief minister had released Rs 10 crore as prompt aid. He added that the state also had schemes and funds — amounting to Rs 2,499 crore as mentioned by authorities — which could be tapped for rehabilitation.

“I salute the people of Jammu and Kashmir. No one left any shortcomings in giving help.

“Some brought food, some brought blankets, some brought other things, and they all gave great help,” he said.

During the visit to Gram Badyal Brahmin,  Chouhan repeatedly urged farmers not to lose hope and stressed that both governments were working together to address the damage to crops and farmland caused by the recent floods and sand deposition.