Agartala: A district and sessions court in Tripura’s Dhalai district sentenced a drug trafficker to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh in a narcotics case busted two years ago.The convict, Supankar Debnath (35), a resident of Dhanpur in Sepahijala district, was found guilty under multiple provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court ordered that failure to pay the fine would lead to an additional year of rigorous imprisonment.The case dates to Aug 10, 2024, when Ambassa police, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted a vehicle on the Assam-Agartala national highway on suspicion of carrying illegal substances. Police said the driver tried to flee, triggering a chase that ended after the vehicle crashed. Two passengers escaped, while Debnath was arrested at the spot.During the search, police recovered 587.52 grams of brown sugar concealed in 49 soap cases and 80,000 Yaba tablets hidden in a specially made compartment in the vehicle.Ambassa police filed a charge sheet against Debnath in Dec 2024. The court convicted him after examining witness statements and material evidence. He was also convicted for reckless driving and causing injuries under relevant sections of the BNS and the Motor Vehicles Act.
