Police in Anantnag district of south Kashmir has achieved remarkable progress in its fight against drug trafficking and other illicit activities in the ongoing year and have adopted a multi-faceted strategy focusing on enforcement, awareness, and rehabilitation.
Police data accessed by Greater Kashmir reveal that the crackdown on narcotics resulted in the registration of 123 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since January this year.
A total number of 185 individuals were arrested for their involvement in drug-related offenses. A number of 102 of these cases were charge-sheeted, with 126 accused formally prosecuted.
Additionally, the police detained 24 individuals under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, showcasing a stringent legal approach.
The police during the action against drugs has seized contraband substances, including, Charas 2.641 kilograms, Cannabis (Bung powder/Bung fuki) 383.500 kilograms, Poppy Straw 510.648 kilograms, Brown Sugar 1.64 kilograms, Intoxicant Syrups 1,350 bottles and Intoxicant Tablets/Capsules 300 strips (10,000 tablets).
To cripple the financial backbone of drug networks, police has attached properties worth Rs 26.40 crores were attached in 26 cases. These included 17 houses, 09 shops, and 10 vehicles. The police has also seized cash amounting to Rs 10,71,755.
Besides, in a move to curb the financial operations of drug cartels, the police froze 275 bank accounts linked to drug offenders, with a cumulative amount of Rs 1.94 crores.
While recognising the role of some medical shops in facilitating drug abuse, Anantnag Police has cancelled the licenses of 13 shops and temporarily suspended 30 others.
Besides seizers, the police destroyed 292 kanals of illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation. This included 250 kanals of poppy and 42 kanals of bung, dealing a significant blow to the cultivation of raw materials for drug production.
The police as a part of its broader crackdown on illicit activities, have registered 18 cases under the Excise Act, seizing 3,458 liters of alcohol (equivalent to 7,500 bottles).
