'Punish drug peddlers severely to curb its use by youngsters'

"The consumption of narcotics by young generation in the society can be curbed only by restricting its circulation in the society by imposing severe sentence (on those found guilty of dealing in drugs)," Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar said, sentencing the youth.

"The circulation of the contraband in the society pollutes the mind of the young generation in the cities, particularly, in the metropolitan cities like Delhi," ASJ Kumar added, while also imposing a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Delhi resident Naresh alias Nawal.

The police had apprehended him on February on February 19, 2010 midnight with a polythene bag having 520 grams of a contraband, which was found to be cannabis after its forensic test.

"Once it is proved, that the contraband has been recovered from the possession of the convict and all the legal requirements have been complied with, the cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, should be dealt with severely," the judge said while denying leniency to the convict, who sought mercy from the court on the ground of being young.