Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara, May 13: Terming it a major success and jolt to the LeT outfit, Police in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Saturday said that they have busted an inter-state narco module leading to the recovery of eight Kilograms of Heroin and arrest of four persons.
This was stated by the Senior Superintendent (SSP) Kupwara, Yougal Manhas in a joint press conference.
The SSP said that four individuals have been arrested leading to the recovery of 8 kilograms of Heroin and Rs 5 lakh. He said that this is an inter-state Nacro module operating from Pakistan. “Two residents from Jumagand area identified as Manzoor Ahmad and Asad Mir were operating as handlers. They exfiltrated back in the 1990s and are living there since then. Manzoor used his relative Maroof Ahmad to push this consignment into this side,” the SSP said.
He said that apart from Maroof, a total of four individuals including a Punjab resident identified as Laba Masih has been arrested so far in this particular case.
The SSP also said that the case is as of now in the initial stage. “More arrests and recoveries are expected. Details about the case if arise in times to come shall be shared accordingly,” he said.
The SSP blamed LeT for using their handlers to push narcotics into the valley. “Money is processed from these consignments aimed to help militants and their activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Busting of this particular module is a huge success for both Army and Police for working together,” the SSP said.
About the Punjab resident, the SSP said that he was tasked to receive the consignment and take it to Amritsar. “It can’t be ruled out that the consignment would have been taken to any part of India.”
Praising the troops deployed close to the Line of Control (LoC), he said that they are alert. “Leakage happens sometimes. But all those involved are being identified and detained. The arrest of this particular module is an example. The way security agencies are working together, the day is not far when the entire Jammu and Kashmir is made drug-free,” he said.
About locals, he said that those involved in the drugs including the consumption need to stay away from it else their number is not far when they are put behind bars.
Blaming Pakistan, the SSP said that Pakistan first destroyed the future of the youth of J&K by pushing guns. “They are using narcotics as an alternative after the nose was tightened against Hawala money. Narcotics are sold and money made for it is used in militant activities,” he added.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued said that in a major success against inter-state narco-terror smuggling syndicate originating from PoJK, Kupwara Police along with Army has arrested 04 smugglers involved in running the module.
“Acting on a tip-off that a Punjab-based narco smuggler has arrived in the district at a pre-decided location to take a consignment of narcotics, a joint search operation by Kupwara Police along with a local army unit was launched in Zurhama area of PS Trehgam,” the statement said.
During the operation, the statement said 04 persons identified as Yousuf Bokra son of Suba Bokra, resident of Rashanpora Kralpora, Showkat Ahmad Khatana son of Ab Rashid Khatana, resident of Meliyal Kupwara, Maroof Ahmad Mir son of Mohd Rafiq Mir, resident of Jumagad, A/p Zurhama Kupwara and Laba Masih son of Sadiq Masih, a resident of Awaan Ramdas Ajnala, District Amritsar Punjab, have been arrested, when they were in the process of exchanging smuggled narcotics and cash among themselves.
During the preliminary investigations, the statement said that it has transpired that the narcotic consignment has been sent by two PoJK-based terrorist handlers of LeT namely Manzoor Ahmad Mir son of Ab Rashid Mir, and Asad Mir son of Diya Mir, both originally residents of Jumagund Kupwara, who have exfiltrated to PoJK in early 1990s to join terrorist ranks. Both Manzoor and Asad, over a period of time have become terrorist handlers of LeT mainly acting as Launching commanders besides pushing narcotics and weapons to sustain terrorist activities in the UT of J&K.
So far, the statement said that 8 packets of narcotics (Heroin like substance) weighing about 8 Kilograms along with Rs 5 lakh cash in Indian currency notes have been recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.
The statement further said that the case under relevant sections of NDPS Act and UA(P) Act stands registered in Police Station Trehgam. “As the investigations are at its initial stage, more arrests and recoveries can’t be ruled out,” the statement added.
