Narco-terror on the rise, security officials on toes in J&K

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, January 21

The increased recovery of drugs smuggled from Pakistan into J&K has rung alarm bells among security establishments, leaving them on toes as these consignments are being diverted towards narco-terrorism.

On Friday, the Army seized 31 kg of narcotics along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. Defense PRO, Lt Col Devender Anand said, “The Army along with the police launched a relentless operations in the area that were backed up with a well integrated surveillance grid coupled with extensive domination of the areas close to the LoC. On the intervening night of January 19 and 20, narcotics weighing approximately 31 kg was found near the LoC.”

In November last year, the police had seized 52 kg heroin worth Rs 100 crore (according to international market) from a Punjab-bound truck. As per investigation, heroin was smuggled into Kashmir from Pakistan and was being sent to Punjab for sale. The sale of drugs was supposed to be used to fuel terrorism.

DGP Dilbag Singh had recently appealed to the villagers along the LoC to keep vigil on smuggling of narcotics, especially in border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, from Pakistan.

A top level meeting of the Army and the police was also held in 6th Sector Brigade headquarters Potha, Surankot, in Poonch last month where detailed presentation regarding narco-terrorism and smuggling of drugs was made. Top Army brass and police officials, including the DGP, were present in the meeting.

On January 7, the police found a drone in Gujral village in Akhnoor in Jammu. It is suspected that the drone was used to smuggle contraband and weapons from Pakistan.

Zorawar Singh Jamwal, who is the chairman of Team Jammu, an organisation that works against drug abuse in J&K, says the recovery of drugs from highways and borders has increased. “While Pakistan has failed in succeeding against India through proxy war, it is now targeting the youth of our country with drugs terrorism.”

Reasi SSP Shailender Singh said the police in his district achieved a major success and crossed the mark of 254 arrests with the registration of 208 FIRs regarding drug abuse since March 2021. The district police on January 19 found 4.70-kg charas worth Rs 15 lakh and heroin worth Rs 50,000 from peddlers.

In April 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs had suspended the cross LoC trade between India and Pakistan following incidents of seizure of arms, ammunition, narcotics and fake currency that was being smuggled in Pakistani trucks at the two trade points in Uri and Poonch.

Recent seizures

• 52 kg heroin seized from a Punjab-bound truck in November last year. It was said to have been smuggled into Kashmir from Pakistan.
• On January 19, Reasi police seized 4.7 kg charas worth Rs15 lakh and heroin worth Rs50,000 from peddlers.