Anantnag police have conducted a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, apprehending ten individuals suspected of being drug peddlers in a series of coordinated operations across the district within a single day. The intensive anti-narcotics campaign also resulted in the seizure of illicit substances valued in the lakhs of rupees, signaling a robust effort by law enforcement to combat the pervasive drug menace in the region.
These arrests were the culmination of heightened surveillance, patrolling, and intelligence-gathering activities undertaken by police units in various parts of Anantnag. Following the detentions, ten separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against the accused under the stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the recovered contraband includes a variety of narcotics such as cannabis, charas, charas powder, and heroin, indicating a diverse range of substances being trafficked.
At the Larnoo police station, officers intercepted Mohd. Iqbal Dangroo during routine naka checking at Lessu. A search of his person yielded a substantial recovery of approximately 2.393 kilograms of cannabis. In a separate development within the Arwani area, police from the Bijbehara station apprehended two individuals, Mukhtar Ali and Dolal Ali, both identified as residents of West Bengal. Charas was found in their possession at the time of their arrest.
Further operations led to the apprehension of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat by a police party from Srigufwara station during surprise checking near Hatigam crossing. A subsequent search revealed approximately 55 grams of charas and 86 grams of charas powder. Similarly, Mohd. Arif Magray was apprehended by police from Uttersoo station while on patrol near Krad Bridge. He was found to be in possession of approximately 15 grams of a substance believed to be charas.
The anti-drug sweep continued with the arrest of Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie by a police party from Mattan during naka checking near the footbridge at Bumzoo. His personal search uncovered approximately 90.2 grams of charas. At a police post in Dialgam, a naka established at Bondialgam crossing intercepted Fayaz Ahmad Magray, who was traveling from Donipawa towards Bondialgam. Approximately 8 grams of a charas-like substance were recovered from him.
In a notable seizure, Achabal police intercepted an Innova vehicle bearing registration number JK02AN-3114 during random naka checking at Shehlipora crossing. The driver, Irshad Ahmad Ganaie, was taken into custody after a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of approximately 8.4 grams of heroin. The vehicle involved in the transportation of the contraband was also seized by the authorities.
The proactive policing efforts also saw the arrest of Feroze Ahmad Sofi by Achabal police during patrolling in the Akingam area. Approximately 18.4 grams of a charas-like substance were recovered from his possession. In another instance, a police party from Uttersoo station apprehended Aijaz Ahmad Lone near Cheerpora Bridge while he was present in the Cheerpora area under suspicious circumstances. A polythene bag containing approximately 12 grams of charas was found with him.
Anantnag police, in a statement released following these operations, reiterated their unwavering commitment to eradicating the drug menace from the district. The authorities emphasized their resolve to pursue stringent legal action against all individuals found to be involved in drug trafficking activities. The police also issued an appeal to the general public, urging them to extend their cooperation by sharing credible information regarding any drug-related activities. This collaborative approach, the statement highlighted, is crucial in the collective endeavor to build a drug-free society and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.