SRINAGAR: In a major stride against drug abuse, Srinagar Police destroyed 121 kilograms of confiscated narcotics as part of a nationwide anti-drug campaign led by India’s Hon’ble Home Minister. The Drug Disposal Committee of District Srinagar carried out this operation following legal orders, ensuring the destruction was conducted at an authorized incineration site in Lassipora, Pulwama.
The process was overseen by senior police officials alongside representatives from the legal metrology and pollution control departments.The destroyed contraband included substances such as heroin, brown sugar, crystal meth, charas, fukki, and codeine phosphate. These drugs were linked to multiple cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act across Srinagar.
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The Srinagar Police have recently intensified their operations against the illegal narcotics trade. On Thursday, they recovered 290 bottles of codeine phosphate from Panthachowk, registering an FIR under Sections 8/21 of the NDPS Act. Earlier, on Tuesday, a significant drug bust occurred at Chota Bazar, where police seized a large consignment of narcotics being transported via a courier service.
Further bolstering their anti-drug measures, police investigations on January 12 led to the freezing of over 100 bank accounts linked to drug traffickers. These accounts, holding lakhs of rupees, were tied to individuals arrested under the NDPS Act. Additionally, properties worth crores of rupees, acquired through drug trafficking, have been attached under Section 68F of the NDPS Act.
In a separate operation on January 8, Srinagar Police intercepted a significant narcotics shipment, arresting two peddlers and recovering 8 kilograms of heroin.
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Throughout 2024, Srinagar Police registered 94 cases under the NDPS Act, detaining 156 individuals and booking 26 others under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act.
A senior police official told The New Indian, “ Our primary mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of our community. The fight against drug trafficking is not just about enforcing the law but about protecting the future of our youth and society at large.”
He said “Narcotics and psychotropic substances pose a grave threat, not only to individual lives but also to the social fabric of our community. Our intensified operations, including seizures, arrests, and financial investigations, reflect our unwavering commitment to eradicating this menace and creating a safer environment for all.”
He added, “We believe that combating drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach, combining strict enforcement, community engagement, and awareness campaigns. By freezing assets and attaching properties linked to illicit drug trade, we aim to dismantle the financial backbone of these criminal networks.”
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, V K Birdi on Friday said that the fight against the drug menace would be taken to its logical conclusion and habitual offenders involved in the drug trade won’t be spared.
The IGP said, “All habitual offenders are under scanner and no one will be spared.”