Srinagar, Sept 21: Jammu & Kashmir Police arrested five alleged drug peddlers and recovered charas and cannabis-like substances during separate anti-drug operations across Anantnag, Kupwara, Kulgam and Shopian districts, police said on Monday.
In Anantnag, a police party from Police Post Janglatmandi apprehended Muzaffar Ahmad Sheikh, son of Gh. Hassan Sheikh of Nazuk Mohalla, Ganjiwara, at Ashajipora following credible information. During a search, police recovered a 3-gram charas stick and 357 grams of ganja from his possession.
The contraband was seized and FIR No. 319/2026 was registered at Police Station Anantnag under relevant provisions of law. Investigation has been initiated to ascertain the source of the contraband and establish its linkages.
In Kupwara, police arrested Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Lalpora, during an operation in the Lalpora area. A charas-like substance was recovered from his possession. A case was registered at Police Station Lalpora and investigation was taken up.
In Kulgam, Police Post Mir Bazar established a naka at Chidhama, where a scooty bearing registration number JK03Q-4003 was intercepted. During checking, 21 grams of charas-like substance was recovered from its storage compartment. The rider, identified as Sahil Ahmad Wani, son of Javid Ahmad Wani of Devalgam, Kokernag, Anantnag, was arrested and legal proceedings initiated.
Two separate operations were conducted in Shopian. At Keller market, police intercepted a Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK22-3033 and recovered 154 grams of charas powder-like substance from its driver, identified as Mohd Yousuf Chopan, son of Gh. Mohd Chopan of Keller Bongam. The vehicle was seized and FIR No. 96/2026 was registered at Police Station Keller.
In another operation, a police party from Police Post Keegam apprehended Gh. Mohd Mochi, son of Rustum Mochi of Audoora Rampthri, during naka checking at Audoora Rampathri. A search of his bag led to the recovery of 2.55 kilograms of crushed cannabis-like substance. FIR No. 199/2026 was registered at Police Station Shopian.
Police said investigations in the cases were underway to ascertain the source of the recovered substances and establish forward and backward linkages.
The operations form part of J&K Police’s intensified drive against drug trafficking and substance abuse, with police urging people to share credible information about drug peddling and assuring confidentiality of informants.
