Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 30: Police today arrested 10 drug peddlers across Kashmir and recovered narcotics during anti-drug campaigns.
Police booked seven habitual drug offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act in Sopore and lodged them in different jails.
The accused, identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Lone of Wagub Sopore, Shabir Ahmad Ganie of Gousia Colony Dangerpora Sopore, Manzoor Ahmad Mochi of Harwan Bomai, Jahangeer Ahmad Tantray of Behrampora Rafiabad, Waseem Raja of Kranshivan Sopore, Bilal Ahmad Lone and Adil Ahmad Lone, both residents of Nadihal Rafiabad, have been detained following proper orders.
Police said Mushtaq Ahmad Lone has been lodged in District Jail Udhampur; Shabir Ahmad Ganie and Manzoor Ahmad Mochi in Bhadarwah Jail; Jahangeer Ahmad Tantray and Waseem Raja in Kot Bhalwal Jail Jammu; while Bilal Ahmad Lone and Adil Ahmad Lone have been lodged in Amphalla Jail Jammu.
Police also arrested three drug-peddlers in Anantnag and Handwara and recovered contraband substances, while a heroin-like substance was seized during a raid in Pulwama.
In Anantnag, police apprehended Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Renzipora, Awantipora during naka checking at Sangam and recovered about 534 grams of charas-like substance from his possession.
In Pulwama, a police team raided a house in Urwan village and recovered approximately 11 grams of heroin-like substance from the residence of Ashiq Ahmad Rather.
In Handwara, police intercepted a vehicle at Dingri and recovered charas-like substance from driver Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of Kupwara.
In a separate operation, Inayatullah Khan of Ucher Magam was arrested after attempting to flee from a naka point, with charas-like substance recovered from him.
Cases have been registered and investigations are underway.
Police, in coordination with the district administration, intensified action against drug-linked activities in Shopian, cutting down illegally planted apple trees on state land linked to an accused in a narcotics case.
According to officials, apple trees planted on state land under the possession of Bashir Ahmad Ahanger, son of Abdul Gani Ahanger, a resident of Trenz Imamsahib, were removed during a joint operation by police and revenue authorities.
Ahanger is involved in FIR No. 07/2020 registered at Police Station Imamsahib.
Initial verification revealed that the trees had been planted without authorization on state land.
The Drug Disposal Committee Shopian today destroyed a large quantity of seized contraband under court orders and provisions of the NDPS Act.
The disposal was carried out at IGC Kashmir Health Care System Lassipora.
Drugs seized in 26 FIRs were destroyed, including 64.719 kg charas, 56.126 kg poppy straw, 34.761 kg cannabis, 20.745 kg bhung, 4.118 kg ganja and 10 grams heroin.
Police Station Rajpora conducted intensive searches at the residences of suspected drug peddlers.
Police today sealed a medical store at Cheeni Chowk area of Anantnag after recovering controlled pharmaceutical substances being sold in violation of norms.
During a joint inspection with the Drugs and Food Control Department, medicines including Pregabalin, Clonazepam combinations and cough syrup were seized from Atif Medical Store.
The shop was sealed and proceedings for licence cancellation initiated.
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