Srinagar, Dec 31: Police districts across south Kashmir mounted an aggressive and sustained offensive against narcotics in 2025, recording major recoveries, arrests, property attachments and convictions as part of a multi-pronged strategy to dismantle drug trafficking networks and curb substance abuse.
In the Shopian district, police registered 72 FIRs under the NDPS Act and arrested 84 accused involved in drug peddling and trafficking. As a strong deterrent, 10 habitual offenders were booked under the PIT NDPS Act. During the year, police seized 317.53 kilograms of narcotics, including charas, cannabis, poppy straw and heroin, besides recovering 24,700 ml of codeine-based syrup and 195 psychotropic tablets. The seized contraband was valued at several crores. Four residential properties worth around Rs 1 crore were attached following due legal process. Police also destroyed 716.86 kilograms of contraband and 23,700 ml of illicit drug bottles linked to 58 old NDPS cases, and uprooted wild cannabis cultivated on nearly 100 kanals of state land.
Kulgam Police registered 87 NDPS cases against 111 accused and recovered narcotics worth several crores. Two major cases resulted in convictions, with courts awarding sentences of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and life imprisonment, respectively. Seven residential houses valued at Rs 4.32 crore were attached under the NDPS Act, while one motorcycle was attached under the UAPA to disrupt logistical support. Police also destroyed illicit poppy and bhang cultivation spread over 46 kanals and destroyed 210.78 kilograms of narcotics worth about Rs 1 crore at an authorised biomedical waste facility. In addition, Kulgam Police registered 167 FIRs against illegal mining, seized 235 vehicles and recovered nearly Rs 79.6 lakh for victims of cyber fraud. Under the Civic Action Programme, Rs 10.94 lakh was spent on youth and community initiatives.
Awantipora Police registered 62 NDPS cases and arrested 96 accused, with 12 booked under PIT NDPS. Four properties worth ₹1.56 crore were attached, large tracts of illicit poppy and wild bhang cultivation were destroyed, and significant quantities of heroin, cannabis, poppy straw and charas were seized. Beyond narcotics, police neutralised three terrorists in a single encounter, busted terror modules, arrested absconders, seized vehicles involved in illegal mining and recovered over Rs 28 lakh in cyber fraud cases.
Pulwama Police registered 115 NDPS cases, arrested 136 individuals and challaned 101 cases during the year. Eleven offenders were booked under PIT NDPS, 14 bank accounts were frozen, and properties were attached under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act. Police seized large quantities of poppy straw, cannabis powder, charas, heroin, brown sugar, ganja, opium poppy, codeine bottles and liquor, while recovering or saving over Rs 40.5 lakh for cybercrime victims.