3 drug peddlers arrested in Kashmir

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 2: Police today arrested three drug peddlers in Anantnag and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir and intensified its anti-narcotics campaign through wild bung destruction drives and youth programmes.

A Police spokesperson said in Anantnag, police apprehended two alleged drug-peddlers during routine patrolling at Mirgund near Rehmat Alam Masjid and recovered charas from their possession. The accused were identified as Uzair Ashraf Wani and Mujtaba Mehraj, both residents of Sarnal, Anantnag. A case under Sections 8/20 and 29 of the NDPS Act was registered at Police Station Anantnag.

In Pulwama, police arrested Mohd. Sahil, a resident of Chak Wali Sahab, Rawalpora, Srinagar, during naka checking at Newa Chowk and recovered about 12.5 grams of heroin and Rs 14,300 in cash, the spokesperson said. The suspected contraband was recovered from the dashboard of a cab intercepted by police. The vehicle, cash and contraband were seized, and an FIR under Sections 8/21-27A of the NDPS Act was registered at Police Station Pulwama.

The spokesperson said police also carried out wild bung destruction drives in Awantipora and Kulgam. At Reshipora in Awantipora, wild bung plants growing along the Jhelum bund were destroyed in coordination with the Excise Department, Lumberdar, Chowkidar and local residents. In Kulgam, similar plants growing along the roadside at Makhanpora were identified and destroyed in coordination with the Excise Department.