‘Narco-module had links from Kupwara to Ludhiana’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 12: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh today said Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a significant milestone in the fight against terrorism this year so far as the Union Territory witnessed the lowest number of terror incidents and civilian deaths in over three decades.
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“The security situation has drastically improved in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the best year in terms of security situation was 2013. There was lowest level (of militancy) in 2013,” Singh said, adding subsequent years saw an increase in militant activities with intent to incite emotions to revive the dying militancy.
He was speaking to media persons after police displayed recovery of narcotics, cash, fake number plates and weapons recovered from the narco smugglers in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
“Pakistan tried to revive the militancy and it succeeded in it. They lured more people into terrorism. The militancy related incidents and number of terrorists increased. It was peak of militancy in 2017,” the UT police chief said.
However, he expressed satisfaction at the current trajectory.
“We brought it down. The graph depicting militant activity now lies below both the level of 2013 and the zenith of 2017,” he added.
In a remarkable statistical shift, the number of terror-related cases plummeted from 113 in 2013 to a mere 42 in 2023 so far, he said.
In 2022, a historical low of 26 law and order incidents was recorded in J-K, and this year (till date), there have been only three such incidents, none of which was linked to terrorism, Singh added.
“These numbers, taken collectively, paint a picture of remarkable normalcy. In 2012, the region reported the fewest civilian casualties at 25, and in 2023, this number further declined to a mere 12,” he said.
The security apparatus has proven effective in safeguarding lives, he said.
The DGP said that the police force has also demonstrated commendable resilience.
“In 2022, 15 officers made the ultimate sacrifice, while this year, only one officer was martyred,” he said, adding the year 2012 registered the lowest number of police fatalities at six.
“Additionally, in 2018, 210 young individuals were swayed towards militancy. In 2023, however, the figure is a mere 10, with six of them neutralized,” Singh said.
He said that the comprehensive efforts to bolster security have yielded remarkable results in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Recent incidents in Rajouri and Poonch prompted a reevaluation of the security grid, leading to successful counter-terrorism operations. Despite sporadic incursions from Pakistan-based terrorists, the area is now home to only a handful of militants. Stringent security operations remain underway,” he added.
The DGP said the strides made in 2023 reflect a significant turning point in the longstanding battle against militancy in the region.
“The resolute efforts of the security forces stand as a beacon of hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as they look towards a future marked by peace and stability,” he added.
Police displayed narcotics and cash running into crores which was seized by Police from drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir followed by joint raid with Punjab Police at Multanpur Dakha in Ludhiana yesterday.
Initially police had arrested three narcotics smugglers along with 30 kg cocaine in Ramban. Yesterday, Ramban Police and Punjab Police jointly conducted raid at Multanpur Dakha in Ludhiana and arrested another drug peddler linked to the case and recovered Rs 4.94 crore worth cash from his possession.
Police today displayed cocaine, cash, 48 fake number plates, passport, German revolver and other items recovered from the possession of narcotics smugglers at the Police Headquarters.
Dilbag said that the links of the inter-State narco-module busted a few days ago have been traced from Kupwara district in the Kashmir valley to Ludhiana in Punjab.
Eight people have been arrested so far in the racket, he said.
“Police in Ramban district recently intercepted a vehicle and recovered 30 kg of cocaine-like substance. Though the final report of the FSL is awaited, it seems that the recovered substance is cocaine,’’ the UT police chief said.
He said four people have been arrested in this connection in Kupwara district. During the course of investigation, it was found that links of the inter-state narco-module were connected with Kupwara district as Amrohi is the favourite route used for smuggling.
“The fresh consignment was also smuggled from the same route. We have registered 12 cases in Amrohi area of Kupwara related to narco-terror. No evidence of drone dropped narcotics has been received and there are credible leads that show that narcotics have been smuggled physically,” Dilbag said.
After the arrest of the four accused from Kupwara, the J&K Police in a joint operation with the Punjab Police arrested four more people from Punjab, including the key handler of the drugs.
“Investigations revealed that the arrested key accused’s father was also a drug dealer,” the DGP said.
He said that it seems that during the transportation of drugs from Kupwara to Punjab, fake number plates were used to deceive police on the highways.
“The drivers of the vehicles ferrying the drugs would have been impersonating police officers given the recovery of police badges and the number plates that would have been changed from one stop to another. So far it has been found that narcotics are coming from across the LoC in Kashmir to support and fuel terrorism. Links of all major terror organizations have come to fore in the racket,’’ he added.
“The investigations are on, more arrests are likely to be made. Cases of drone-dropped consignments of narcotics have been reported from the International Border in Jammu,” the police chief said.
“With the arrest of the eight accused, a big inter-state narco smuggling module has been busted,” the DGP said.
To a query about the number of drug abusers in J&K, he said even though there is no credible study or census, a preliminary investigation suggests that there are 700,000 people who have fallen prey to drugs in J&K
On fake number plates, the DGP said, “it seems that during the transportation of drugs, number plates were used to deceive police on the highways.”
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