Bhubaneswar: In a first, a court in Odisha convicted a juvenile in connection with a narcotic drugs seizure case and pronounced penalties for the offender.

The Court of Juvenile Justice Board, Khordha, on Friday convicted the juvenile under section 21(c) NDPS Act, 1985 in STF PS Case No. 28/2021.

The court found the juvenile guilty and sent him to Special Home, Berhampur for a period of three years for the offence, with direction to provide reformative services including education, skill development, counseling, behaviour modification therapy, psychiatric support, and treatment during the period in the Special Home.

This is probably the first case where a juvenile was convicted in an NDPS case in Odisha.

The juvenile was accused in the seizure of contraband brown sugar weighing 1.268 kg in the year 2021.

On August 12, 2021, Bhubaneswar STF had apprehended three accused persons including the juvenile with 1kg 268 gram brown sugar and other incriminating articles near Khordha Bus Stand. They were caught while they were dealing with brown sugar for their pecuniary gain.

Following investigation into the case, the STF submitted a chargesheet against the accused persons under section 21(c)/29 NDPS Act, 1985.

During the trial, the persecution had examined 11 witnesses and 44 documents.