March 16: Continuing its efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society, Police in a series of actions have arrested 07 drug peddlers in Kulgam, Baramulla & Awantipora and recovered contraband substances from their possession. Besides, Police along with security forces recovered narcotics worth crores in a village near LoC in Uri.

In Baramulla, police along Army Dagger Division while conducting routine area domination patrols in general area of village Churanda Uri near LoC, found a suspicious bag. Accordingly, search of the surrounding area was also conducted and Narco Dog of BSF was called in. During search operation, about 01 Kg of narcotics worth crores concealed in suspicious bag was recovered.

During preliminarily investigation it was learnt that under a well hatched conspiracy, Pakistan based handlers are pushing drugs inside JK to spread drug addiction among the youth of JK.

In another action, a police party of PS Baramulla at a checkpoint established at Khanpora intercepted a vehicle bearing registration number JK05L-2188 with two persons on board. They have been identified as Irfan Rasool Lone son of Gh Rasool Lone resident of Kralpora Fatehgarh & Amir Ahmad Wani son of Ab Gani Wani resident of Zandfaran Sheeri. During search, 20 grams of Brown Sugar was recovered from their possession. They have been arrested and the vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized.

In similar action, a police party of PS Uri following a specific information regarding hoarding of narcotics at a house belonging to Nokhaze Khan Awan son of Kalu Khan Awan resident of Paranpeelan Uri, raided the specific location along with concerned Magistrate. During search, 1.260 Kgs of Charas was recovered from the said location. The owner of the house has been arrested.

Meanwhile, a police party of PS Sheeri at a checkpoint established at Gantamulla Baramulla arrested a drug peddler identified as Mohd Amir Lone son of Naseer Ahmad Lone resident of Baila Boniyar. During search, 60 grams of Charas was recovered from his possession.

In Kulgam, a police party of Police Post Mirbazar at a checkpoint established at Al-stop on NHW-44 arrested a drug peddler identified as Mohammad Ashraf Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat resident of Rahpora, Khudwani. During search, 40 bottles of codeine phosphate have been recovered from his possession.

In another similar action, a police party of Police Station Kund during patrolling at Oreil Kund arrested a notorious drug peddler identified as Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Abdullah Bhat resident of Checki Badwani, Qazigund. During search, 218 grams of charas was recovered from his possession.

Similarly, a police party of Police Station Awantipora at a checkpoint established at Padgampora Bridge intercepted a vehicle (alto) bearing registration number JK13H-3155 driven by Amir Jabar Lone son of Late Mohd Jabar Lone resident of Buhoo Awantipora. During search, officers were able to recover 05 grams of Heroin from his possession. He has been arrested and the vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized.

All the drug peddlers have been shifted to respective police stations where they remain in custody.

Accordingly, cases under relevant sections of law have been registered at respective police stations and investigations have been initiated.

Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt strictly under law.```