01/06/2025
Leh Court Delivers Twin Landmark Verdicts on Drug Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse — Strong Blow to Heinous Crimes in Ladakh
Leh, May 31, 2025:
In a powerful demonstration of justice, the Principal Sessions Judge (Special Judge) Leh, Shri Manoj Parihar, has delivered two landmark verdicts that send a clear message against heinous crimes in Ladakh—one involving major drug trafficking, and the other concerning the brutal sexual abuse of a minor. These convictions reflect not only the firm stance of the judiciary but also the exceptional legal acumen, hard work, and sincere dedication of the prosecution, particularly Assistant Public Prosecutor Shri Nawang Nurbu, whose tireless pursuit of justice led to these significant outcomes.
In the recent NDPS case, the court convicted Dhoni Chand, a resident of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, for possession of 8 kg and 190 grams of Charas. Based on credible inputs, the accused was intercepted while travelling from Manali to Leh in a Bolero, and the contraband was recovered by a police team led by the then SHO Inspector Stanzin Dorjey. The court sentenced the accused to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh, with an additional 6 months imprisonment in default.
The accused in this case was represented by Advocate Mohd Shafi Lassu.
This conviction was the result of a strategic and evidence-based prosecution, handled with utmost professionalism, precision, and perseverance by APP Shri Nawang Nurbu, whose unwavering commitment to the rule of law and deep understanding of legal intricacies ensured a watertight case.
Earlier, on March 6, 2025, the same court had delivered another historic judgment in a horrifying case of child sexual abuse, sentencing Muzzafar Ali of Chushot Yokma to 12 years under the JK Protection of Children from Sexual Violence (JKPOCSV) Act and an additional 5 years under the RPC, both to run concurrently. The 437-page verdict, hailed as a legal milestone in Ladakh, was a result of nearly five years of relentless legal effort.
In this case, the accused was represented by Advocate Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of JK High Court.
Both judgments reaffirm the strength and integrity of the justice delivery system in Ladakh and are seen as bold statements against crime and powerful messages of accountability. The prosecution’s excellence—especially APP Nawang Nurbu’s resolute, principled, and effective advocacy—is being widely appreciated and stands as a model of dedicated public service in the cause of justice.
These back-to-back convictions not only restore public faith in law enforcement and the judiciary but also establish Ladakh’s legal system as one that delivers with strength, sensitivity, and sincerity.
