To meet the 100-day deadline set by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to make the Union Territory free from narcotics, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a comprehensive campaign to dismantle inter-state drug supply networks by tracking down and arresting narcotics suppliers operating across the country.
As part of this campaign, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday conducted a raid in Punjab's Amritsar district and arrested two alleged narco-traffickers while recovering arms and narcotics from their possession.
The raid was carried out jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police after Jammu Police shared specific intelligence inputs with their counterparts in Punjab.
In a major operation against the growing nexus between narcotics trafficking and terrorism, the joint team raided a residential flat in Dream City Colony, Amritsar, and recovered a cache of weapons and narcotic substances.
During the operation, police recovered an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol, and a quantity of narcotic substances from the flat where the two accused were residing.
Following the recovery, the area was immediately cordoned off, and a detailed investigation was launched to ascertain the source of the arms and drugs, as well as the possible involvement of a larger network.
Sources said that several drug traffickers arrested recently by Jammu Police had disclosed the names of major narcotics suppliers based in Amritsar during interrogation.
"The arrested drug traffickers revealed that some suppliers operating from Amritsar were not only involved in the supply of narcotics but were also engaged in the illegal supply of arms," a source said.
The operation was launched on the basis of information gathered during the interrogation of the arrested traffickers, coupled with intelligence inputs developed by the Jammu Police regarding the whereabouts of a wanted suspect. Acting swiftly on the leads, a team from Jammu travelled to Amritsar and, in coordination with Punjab Police, conducted a raid at the identified location.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Surajdeep Singh, a resident of Sheikhpura, and Harpreet Singh, a resident of Devidaspura. Police have also seized vehicles belonging to both accused as part of the investigation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yadvinder Singh of Punjab Police said the operation was executed on the basis of intelligence shared by the Jammu Police. He said both accused are being interrogated and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons who may be linked to the racket.
Nasha Mukt Abhiyan Intensified in J&K
The recovery assumes significance at a time when the Jammu and Kashmir administration has intensified its campaign against drug abuse and narcotics trafficking under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan.
The campaign, launched across the Union Territory, aims to dismantle drug supply chains, curb peddling networks, and spread awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse.
As reported earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed all government departments, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and community organisations to work in close coordination to eradicate the drug menace from Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lieutenant Governor has set an ambitious target of making the Union Territory drug-free within 100 days, describing the fight against narcotics as a collective social responsibility.
Since the launch of the campaign, police and security agencies have stepped up operations against drug peddlers and narco-smuggling networks. Hundreds of arrests have been made, large quantities of narcotics have been seized, and properties acquired through the proceeds of drug trafficking have been attached under relevant legal provisions.
Officials believe the latest recovery in Amritsar highlights the continuing challenge posed by inter-state narcotics networks and the growing concern over the nexus between drug trafficking and the circulation of illegal weapons.
Security agencies are now examining whether the seized arms and narcotics were intended for distribution in Jammu and Kashmir or were linked to a larger criminal or terror-related network.
