Kupwara, June 27 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two narco smugglers along with pistols and narcotics worth Rs 65 Crore, saying that the dup was acting on the directions of Pakistan based militant outfit handlers.
Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shriram Ambarkar as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that police and Army's 17 Bihar unit has arrested two major narco smugglers along with narcotics, arms and ammunition.
He said they had received inputs that the duo was involved in drugs trafficking and are transporting the arms and ammunition illegally from the other side of the border. He added that a manhunt was launched to nab them.
A joint operation was launched during which two narco smugglers identified as Manzoor Ahmad Lone and Ghulam Muhammad Lone, both the residents of north Kashmir's Baramulla district were arrested, he said.
SSP said around 13.5 kilograms of narcotics were also recovered from their possession, adding that 2 pistols, four magazines, 55 Pistol rounds, four hand grenades and 10 detonators were also recovered from their possession. He said that further investigation in to the matter is going on.
He said during the preliminary investigation, it has come to the fore that both the arrested persons were in contact with Pakistan based militant groups who illegally trade weapons into Kashmir Valley to strengthen militancy roots.
SSP also said they were in touch with the Pakistan based handlers and used to operate on their directions. “This successful operation is a clear message for narco militants handlers in Pakistan that before motivating the youth of Kashmir, they will have to face the security grid first,” he added.
Meanwhile, police in its statement said that a case under FIR number 51 under section 8/21 NDPS Act 7/25 IA act and 13, 18, 39 UAPA has been registered at Police Station Kralpora.
Pertinently, this is the second big narco catch claimed by Jammu and Kashmir police in 10 days. Earlier, Handwara police arrested three persons along with a huge amount of ‘illegal money’ and narcotics ‘traded from Pakistan’—(KNO)