Srinagar, Nov 05: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested 1,941 people in more than 1,500 narcotics-related cases and attached properties worth Rs 154 crore across Kashmir this year, with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Sujit Kumar on Thursday warning that proceeds from drug trafficking were being used to finance militant networks and their overground workers.
Addressing a press conference at the Police Control Room in Srinagar, IGP Kumar as per Kashmir Convener said the drug menace, cyber fraud and dangerous driving had emerged as major challenges, particularly among young people. He said police were intensifying enforcement but stressed that tackling these issues required greater involvement of families, educational institutions and civil society.
The figures shared by the IGP highlight the scale of the anti-narcotics operation. Police have seized 1,711 kg of contraband, recovered more than Rs 10 lakh in cash, frozen 567 bank accounts and destroyed illicit cultivation spread over 2,116 kanals.
But Kumar said the drug trade was not merely a law-and-order concern, pointing to its alleged links with militant financing.
“The kingpins, whether operating here or across the border, distribute earnings from narcotics to their overground workers. This is true, although it is difficult to specify the exact volume of money involved,” he said.
According to the IGP, narcotics were entering Kashmir through multiple supply routes, both from across the border and from other states.
Referring to a major drug racket recently uncovered in downtown Srinagar, Kumar said investigations were being expanded beyond Jammu and Kashmir to establish its wider network. Police teams have been sent to Chandigarh and other states to trace those involved, he said, adding that recoveries worth around Rs 7 crore had reportedly been made in the case.
“The investigation is being pursued at a larger level, and the entire forward and backward network will come to light,” he said.
The IGP also flagged the growing involvement of local youth in cybercrime, revealing that police had received 12,385 complaints involving more than Rs 54 crore in financial losses during the current year.
Of this amount, Rs 7.48 crore had been recovered, while additional funds had been frozen or placed under lien in bank accounts pending legal procedures.
“We have recovered around 13 to 14 per cent of the amount involved. A substantial portion of the remaining money is under lien or frozen, while some could not be traced or blocked,” Kumar said.
Police have registered 93 FIRs in connection with cyber fraud complaints, including seven cases involving mule accounts allegedly used to facilitate fraudulent transactions.
Citing a case detected in Ganderbal, IGP Kumar said investigators had uncovered a cyber fraud operation with Chinese links that was allegedly being run by a Srinagar-based youth.
He urged people who fall victim to online financial fraud to immediately report the matter through the national cybercrime helpline 1930, saying timely complaints could help banks freeze suspicious transactions and improve the chances of recovering the money.
The IGP also warned young people against allowing their bank accounts to be used by fraudsters, saying those operating mule accounts could face criminal prosecution.
On the security situation, IGP Sujit Kumar said one local militant was currently active in Kashmir and was being supported by a few foreign militants.
He said the local militant had been linked to attacks in Anantnag and Kulgam, while security forces were continuing efforts to track the group.
“There is certainly one local terrorist, supported by a few foreign terrorists. We have some footprints, but giving a fixed number of active terrorists would be an exaggeration because they are constantly moving from one place to another,” he said.
Asked about recent infiltration attempts, Kumar said he did not have verified figures to share.
On the recent encounter in the high-altitude areas adjoining Budgam and Poonch, he said security forces were operating in difficult mountainous terrain and that sustained domination of these areas, including by specialised units, had helped in successful operations.
He declined to disclose operational details about the communication equipment allegedly being used by militants, saying the technologies were under the surveillance of security agencies.
Beyond narcotics and cybercrime, the IGP expressed concern over rash driving, stunt biking and motorcycles fitted with modified, excessively loud exhaust systems.
He said police had intensified traffic enforcement during both daytime and nighttime hours, warning that reckless driving endangered not only motorists but also pedestrians and other road users.
IGP Sujit Kumar particularly criticised the use of loud motorcycle exhausts, saying they disturbed elderly people, patients and residents, especially during nighttime hours.
Citing a recent incident, he said Srinagar Police had traced a 20-year-old first-year BSc student who had uploaded a video of himself performing motorcycle stunts on Foreshore Road.
The student was called by police and counselled about the risks involved. He later acknowledged his mistake and appealed to other young people against indulging in such activities, Kumar said.
The IGP urged youngsters to use social media to promote responsible behaviour instead of glorifying dangerous driving.
IGP Kumar also cautioned people against individuals claiming proximity to senior police and civil administration officers to cheat job aspirants by promising government employment.
He said photographs with senior officials should not be mistaken for proof of influence or official endorsement, explaining that officers often agreed to photographs as a goodwill gesture.
“Jobs are given on merit. You do not get employment through coercion or by claiming connections with officials,” he said, assuring that action would be taken against those involved in fraudulent recruitment activities.
Emphasising that enforcement alone could not resolve the drug problem, Kumar appealed to young people battling addiction to approach their nearest police station, assuring them that their identities would be protected.
He said the Police Drug Rehabilitation Centre was providing treatment at minimal cost, with patients required to bear only expenses relating to food and medicines, wherever applicable.
“The purpose of sharing these figures is to show that our teams are working on the ground. But enforcement alone is not enough. We want our youth to play a constructive role in society, and the entire Kashmir Police team stands ready to help them,” he said.
The IGP called upon parents, community elders and educational institutions to play a greater role in steering young people away from drugs, cybercrime and dangerous road behaviour, saying cooperation between police and society was essential to address the challenges.
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