Srinagar, April 15: As part of the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan’, police have arrested 17 alleged drug peddlers across the Valley, attached properties worth over ₹2.5 crore, and cancelled a driving licence in an NDPS case, officials said on Wednesday.
An official told Kahsmir Convener, the arrests were made in Anantnag, Shopian, Budgam and Kulgam, with recoveries including charas, heroin, cannabis and poppy straw.
He said In Anantnag’s Srigufwara area, over 6.6 kg of charas was seized, while smaller quantities were recovered at naka points in Larnoo, Pahalgam and Sangam. In Budgam’s Magam, two persons were held with over 1.1 kg of a semi-grinded charas-like substance. In Shopian’s Keller, one person was caught with around 120 grams of charas-like substance.
Kulgam district reported the maximum arrests — 10 peddlers — with contraband seized at checkpoints in Khudwani, Qaimoh, Qazigund and Devsar. Police also destroyed poppy cultivation on a large patch of land in Sopat village, the official said.
In Shopian, a double-storey house valued at ₹25.8 lakh — allegedly acquired from drug proceeds — was attached. In Anantnag, four residential properties worth around ₹2.25 crore were frozen under the NDPS Act. Police also cancelled the driving licence of an accused in an Anantnag NDPS case.
Separate awareness programmes were held in Awantipora and Shopian in collaboration with educational institutions and the civil administration, focusing on drug abuse and legal consequences he said.
Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir V K Birdi chaired a crime review meeting at the Police Control Room here, attended by range DIGs, district SSsP and other senior officers.
The IGP reviewed disposal of cases under the NDPS Act and UAPA, status of absconders, and pending inquest proceedings.
IGP Birdi directed officers to improve investigation quality and develop a robust follow-up mechanism for higher conviction rates, particularly in narcotics and militancy-related cases.
He also reviewed the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’, including enforcement measures, property attachments, and youth-focused campaigns.
District police chiefs have been instructed to intensify operations against drug trafficking networks and expedite legal proceedings. On the security front, the IGP called for enhanced area domination and night patrolling in vulnerable areas.
Cases have been registered in all incidents, and investigations are underway to identify wider trafficking networks, the officer further added.
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