Heroin seizure: BSF constable gets 15-year jail

Bathinda: 30-year Border Security Force (BSF) constable Arvind Saroye from Sargundi village in Jalandhar was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 15 years, along with a Rs 4 lakh fine, after being convicted of offences u/s 21(c), 23(c) read with section 8 of the NDPS Act. He was arrested with 4.235 kg heroin in 3 bottles from Jodhawala border outpost (BOP) in the Fazilka sector.The court of Judge Special Court Ajit Pal Singh on Wednesday pronounced the judgment, under which the convict was sentenced to RI for 15 years and a Rs 2 lakh fine u/s 21(c) of the NDPS Act, and RI for 15 years with a Rs 2 lakh fine. Both sentences shall run concurrently and, in case of default in payment of the fine, RI of 2 years each will have to be faced.
The court, in the judgment, observed that drug/narcotics trading and abuse ruined the young fabric of the country and adversely affected its growth. The effect of such abuse and trading on this region of the country is rather on the higher side. It is the duty of the courts to deal with such convicts who are involved in drug trading or abuse with a strong hand, so as to send a message to society at large, which is also clear from the intent of the legislature, which provided for stringent punishments for commission of offences under the NDPS Act. As per the case, constable Arvind Saroye was found in possession of heroin imported from Pakistan from across the international border in 3 bottles on June 21, 2022, at BOP Jodhawala in Fazilka, and a case was registered against him at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) police station, Chandigarh. It was submitted that specific information was received by the Assistant Director, NCB, Amritsar, from BSF, Fazilka, on June 20, 2022, that troops of BOP Jodhawala recovered 3 bottles filled with suspected narcotics in the BOP area of BSF, and BSF wanted to hand over the case to NCB Amritsar for further legal action. It was forwarded to the Assistant Director, NCB, Chandigarh, who then constituted a team comprising officials from NCB Amritsar Sub-Zone to take further necessary action as per law. It was stated that further investigation was carried out pursuant to instructions given by the Assistant Director, Chandigarh Zonal Unit, and a team reached BOP Jodhawala on June 21, 2022, and an FIR was registered.