RI for three ganja peddlers

Besides the RI, District and sessions judge M K Panda also imposed a fine of Rupees one lakh on the peddlers -- Subu Karpaye, Mayadi Teber Pechy and B Panji Warnan -- on Monday for smuggling ganja to Chennai, about two years ago.

While another woman from Chennai, accused in the case, had died in the jail some months ago, the court acquitted another person, Surendra Behera.

The four women with 52-kg ganja were travelling in Behera`s auto-rickshaw from Poadamari to Berhampur railway station, when the intelligence wing of the excise arrested them on May 10, 2011.

The excise personnel had arrested them under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act at Mundipalli near Digapahandi.