Kupwara Police Intensify Anti-Narcotics Drive, Multiple Arrests Made

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara, May 17: Police in Kupwara intensified their anti-narcotics operations across multiple areas of the district, leading to the arrest of several accused persons, seizure of charas-like substances and destruction of illicit poppy cultivation amid ongoing 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan.

Officials said a police party from Police Station Lalpora apprehended a suspect during naka checking at Rednagh Crossing. The accused was identified as Mohd Shafi Bhat. During search, police recovered a charas-like substance from his possession.

A case under FIR No. 25/2026 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Lalpora and investigation has been initiated.

In another operation, a police party from Police Station Sogam intercepted a motorcycle bearing registration number JK09C-9728 during naka checking at Wavoora Crossing. The vehicle was travelling from Kupwara towards Lolab.

During checking, police recovered charas-like substance from two persons identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir and Faisal Ahmad Khan, who were arrested on the spot. The motorcycle was also seized.

Officials said further investigation led to the arrest of another accused, Faizan Ahmad Mir. A subsequent search conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate recovered additional charas-like substance from his shop at Nawa Bazar Khumriyal.

Police registered FIR No. 22/2026 under Sections 8/20 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sogam and further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, acting on specific information, a police party from Police Post Hatmulla conducted a raid in the Satwatoo area of Gushi and detected illegal poppy cultivation allegedly carried out by Riyaz Ahmad Bhat.

During the operation, police seized around five kilograms of wet poppy plants from the kitchen garden of the accused, while nearly 32 kilograms of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed on the spot following legal formalities.

A case under FIR No. 137/2026 under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act has been registered and investigation has been taken up.