Srinagar, May 20 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday intensified the ongoing “Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan” across Kashmir by destroying illegal poppy cultivation, arresting five alleged drug peddlers, attaching properties and vehicles linked to narcotics trade, and launching awareness programmes in several districts.
A Police official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that illegal poppy cultivation was destroyed in Anantnag, Baramulla and Handwara during coordinated operations carried out with the assistance of magistrates and officials from the Excise, Revenue and Agriculture departments.
ANANTNAG, BARAMULLA, HANDWARA
“In Anantnag district, police destroyed illegally cultivated poppy crops at Batagund Verinag and registered FIR No. 76/2026 under relevant sections of law at Dooru police station,” the official said, adding, “In Baramulla, police along with officials from the Excise and Agriculture departments conducted operations in Tangmarg and Kunzer areas, where illegal poppy cultivation spread over agricultural land was identified and destroyed on the spot. Cases under the NDPS Act were registered and investigations were initiated.”
“In Uri, Police arrested Faisal Ahmed Khan after recovering charas-like sticks wrapped in corn husk from his possession during checking at Zero Morh Daragutlian,” the official said.
In a first-of-its-kind move, Anantnag Police installed a GPS-enabled tracking anklet on an accused released on bail in an NDPS case to monitor his movements and ensure compliance with court directions, the official added.
In Handwara, police destroyed illicit poppy cultivation in Mangwalpora Kralgund and registered FIR No. 31/2026 under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act against an accused identified as Reyaz Ahmad Wani, the official said, adding that Police secured cancellation of 14 driving licences and two vehicle registration certificates of persons involved in NDPS cases as part of the crackdown on narcotics networks in Handwara.
Police also conducted anti-drug awareness programmes, public rallies, naka checking and community outreach campaigns in Handwara and Awantipora, urging people to cooperate in efforts to eradicate drug abuse and trafficking from society, the official said, adding that Police also arrested five alleged drug peddlers in Anantnag, Baramulla and Ganderbal and recovered contraband substances from their possession.
In Anantnag, police arrested a wanted heroin supplier identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar alias Christian during naka checking at Chechripora bypass crossing in Dialgam. Officials said heroin-like substance was recovered from his possession, he said.
3 HELD IN GANDERBAL, HOUSE DEMOLISHED IN SRINAGAR
Meanwhile in Ganderbal, three persons travelling in a Scorpio vehicle were arrested after police recovered heroin-like substance during naka checking at Dumkadal Chowk. The accused were identified as Jahingir Ahmad Jan alias Jana, Junaid Zahoor Bhat and Jahangir Ahmad Bhat. The vehicle used in the alleged crime was also seized, an official said.
He said cases under relevant sections of law were registered at respective police stations and investigations were underway.
In another major action, Srinagar Police demolished an alleged illegal two-storey structure built on state land at Haka Bazar in Lal Bazar area, which officials said was linked to a wanted drug peddler involved in multiple NDPS cases. The property, spread over around nine marlas and estimated to be worth Rs 1.5 crore, was allegedly linked to Arshid Ahmed Sheikh. The demolition was carried out in the presence of an executive magistrate and Srinagar Municipal Corporation officials, he added.
Police in Pulwama also attached a vehicle allegedly used in narcotics trafficking in connection with an NDPS case registered at Pulwama police station, the official said—(KNO)