Amid growing calls for alcohol prohibition, Kupwara court convicts two for public drinking

According to the Jammu & Kashmir Police, a patrolling police team from the Kralpora police station found two drunk people causing “inconvenience to the general public”.

“The in-charge of the patrolling party forwarded a docket to Police Station Kralpora, where the offence was recorded in the daily diary,” the police said in a statement.

SHO Kralpora then applied before the Court of Additional Special Mobile Magistrate, Kralpora, for permission to probe, which led to an FIR under Section 355 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (public misconduct by drunk people).

“Upon completion of the investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the court, where the accused pleaded guilty. Consequently, the Court convicted them and imposed community service as punishment, reinforcing the importance of responsible behaviour and adherence to public decency,” police said in a statement.

The court-ordered community service “punishment” includes cleaning a public place, raising awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, and planting 20 trees on public/state land. The convicted individuals will complete their sentence under the supervision of SHO Police Station Kralpora.

This comes at a time when the ongoing Budget Session is likely to see discussions on three private member Bills aimed at a complete liquor ban in the state. Significantly, while social media posts showing apparently drunk tourists on Kashmir streets have created outrage in some quarters in the Valley.