South Kashmir: Five Drug Peddlers Arrested, 3.93 kg of Contraband Seized | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Police in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday registered four cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, arrested five drug peddlers, and recovered over 3.93 kilograms of contraband substances during multiple operations across the district.

A police spokesperson said Anantnag Police achieved a significant breakthrough in its ongoing anti-narcotics drive by effecting multiple arrests and seizures in different parts of the district.

In the first operation, a police party from Police Station Mattan intercepted a suspect during routine patrolling at Seer Hamdan near Cricket Stadium on Sandooz Road. The individual was found moving in a suspicious manner from Seer towards Sandooz and was subsequently apprehended. During search, police recovered 530 grams of charas powder-like substance and 3.345 kilograms of grinded poppy straw from his possession.

The accused was identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Mir, son of Gh Mohammad Mir, a resident of Seer Hamdan. Police described him as a notorious drug peddler. In this connection, FIR No. 50/2026 under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Mattan and investigation initiated.

In another operation, Police Station Bijbehara conducted naka checking at NHW-44 near Landing Strip Bijbehara, during which two individuals were apprehended. They were identified as Talib Gull Shah, son of Gull Mohammad Shah, resident of Qaimoh Khudwani, and Aqib Ahmad Malik, son of Gull Mohammad Malik, resident of Railway Colony Sadoora, Anantnag.

During their search, 8.18 grams of brown sugar-like substance along with polythene was recovered. FIR No. 116/2026 under Sections 8/21 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered and investigation taken up.

In a separate operation, Police Station Bijbehara arrested another drug peddler, identified as Shafqat Ahmad Sofi, son of Mohammad Yousuf Sofi, resident of Qaimoh Khudwani, during naka checking at Railway Crossing Hassanpora. Police recovered 5.58 grams of brown sugar-like substance from his possession. FIR No. 117/2026 under Section 8/21 NDPS Act has been registered.

In yet another operation, Police apprehended Jaffar Mushtaq Dar, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, resident of Tulkhan, during naka checking at Tulkhan Road, Bijbehara. During search, 49 grams of charas sticks concealed in corn flakes were recovered. FIR No. 118/2026 under Section 8/20 NDPS Act has been registered.

With these coordinated operations, Anantnag Police said it has reiterated its commitment to dismantling the drug network in the district and safeguarding youth from substance abuse. The public has also been urged to share information regarding drug trafficking, with assurance of strict confidentiality.