Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 27: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed the first chargesheet in a case involving the seizure of over 46 kilograms of heroin in Jammu and Punjab, exposing the role of proscribed terrorist outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba in fuelling narco-terrorism in the region and beyond.
Filed before the competent court, the chargesheet pertains to a criminal case registered after the recovery of more than 33 kilograms of heroin from the Bus Stand area of the Jammu district under the NDPS Act.
With terror links emerging, the probe in the case was taken over by the SIA under the NDPS and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
As per an SIA official, the case began with the arrest of Sartaj Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, Punjab from Jammu’s Bus Stand area based on precise and specific intelligence in August last year.
He said the police team recovered 33.580 Kilograms of heroin from the possession of the accused.
According to him, a swift follow-up investigation led to the identification of another accused, Amritpal Singh alias Fouji, who initially escaped with another consignment, but was later nabbed by the Punjab Police, which also seized 12.626 kilograms of heroin.
Given its cross-border dimensions and terror links, the case was handed over to the SIA Jammu, he said.
He said the further investigations uncovered crucial evidence connecting Amrtipal Singh to a Pakistan-based handler linked to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), confirming a direct narco-terror connection.
“This breakthrough came through a blend of technical, scientific, and human intelligence methods,” the SIA official said.
He said the chargesheet includes serious offences under both the NDPS Act and UAPA against the two accused and other associates.
“The case is being seen as a major success for security agencies in combating drug-driven terror networks and underscores the persistent threat posed by the International syndicates using drug routes to finance and sustain terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond,” the SIA official added.
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