Srinagar, Dec 14 (UNI) For the first time in about two decades, a local court in south Kashmir has sentenced a drug smuggler to four year imprisonment.

The Principal District and Sessions judge, Anantnag, Mohammad Shafi Khan sentenced Zakir Hussain Sheikh, a drug smuggler, to four year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000.

Sheikh was arrested by police, along with about one kg charas, near the Jawahar tunnel when he was trying to smuggle it outside the valley in 2004.

An FIR was registered against him under section 20 of Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances Act.

Mr Khan, after hearing the arguments from the defence counsel and Prosecutor, awarded the sentence.

He said in case of default in paying the fine, Sheikh will have to undergo further three-month imprisonment.

This is for the first time that a drug smuggler has been sentenced in the valley during past two decades.

However, police and other officials had destroyed charas and other banned crops over major areas of land in Pulwama and Anantnag districts during last summer.

More than a dozen smugglers were also arrested during the period, along with charas, brown sugar and other drugs in the valley.

UNI