Srinagar – November 6: In a sweeping crackdown against the illicit drug trade across the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered over 1,500 narcotics-related cases and arrested 1,941 individuals so far this year. Delivering a comprehensive law enforcement update, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Sujit Kumar, outlined the scale of anti-drug operations, which have led to the seizure of 1,711 kilograms of contraband substances and the legal attachment of properties valued at over Rs 154 crore belonging to drug traffickers.
The aggressive enforcement campaign has targeted both street-level peddling and high-level trafficking networks. According to police records, authorities have seized Rs 1.10 crore in unaccounted cash and frozen 567 bank accounts holding Rs 1.71 crore tied to illegal narcotics operations. In addition, coordinated operations across the valley have successfully eliminated illicit narcotic crops at 2,116 separate locations.
Addressing the broader social implications of the narcotics crisis, the IGP underscored that law enforcement efforts are paired with rehabilitative interventions. He made an earnest appeal to families struggling with addiction, urging them to reach out to authorities without fear or hesitation. Kumar assured that the identities of individuals and families seeking help will be kept strictly confidential, emphasizing that the police department will actively facilitate admission to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres to help victims reintegrate into society.
Alongside narcotics, the briefing highlighted a sharp focus on surging cybercrime and financial fraud across the region. The Kashmir Police have registered 12,385 cyber complaints this year involving financial fraud exceeding Rs 54 crore. Through rapid tracking and banking interventions, investigators have recovered Rs 7.48 crore, with continuous tracing underway for remaining amounts. Police have registered 93 First Information Reports (FIRs), including seven cases specifically linked to “mule” bank accounts used by cyber cartels to siphon stolen funds.
The IGP issued a stern warning to local youth against handing over their bank details, SIM cards, or personal credentials to third parties for quick money, revealing that multiple fraudulent networks are operated locally with external connections. Citing an investigation in Ganderbal, Kumar noted that detectives had uncovered international links involving a Srinagar resident collaborating with overseas handlers based in China. “It is wrong to sit here and cheat your own people. I appeal to young people to stay away from such activities and contribute positively to society,” he cautioned.
Road safety and traffic enforcement were also addressed as critical community concerns. Police voiced grave alarm over reckless driving, unauthorized vehicle modifications, high-speed biking, and dangerous stunts performed on public thoroughfares. Kumar detailed that both day and night surveillance had been heightened across Srinagar and adjoining districts.
Highlighting restorative policing, the IGP pointed to a recent incident on Foreshore Road where Srinagar Police tracked down a 20-year-old first-year undergraduate student performing high-risk motorbike stunts uploaded to social media. Following dedicated counselling sessions by police officials, the youth released a public video advising peers against life-threatening stunts. The police urged young Kashmiris to utilize digital platforms responsibly, steer clear of illicit activities, and actively champion positive societal change.
Published by True Roots Media