SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested five alleged drug peddlers in Awantipora and Anantnag and seized charas and other suspected narcotic substances in separate operations, police said on Monday.
According to a police statement, a team from Police Post Toll Plaza intercepted a suspicious person at K Koot Crossing in Awantipora during a checkpoint inspection and recovered approximately 67 grams of a charas-like substance from him.
The accused was identified as Jabber, son of Sabir, a resident of Mohalla Gayaspur, Bisalpur, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. Police said he had been arrested and an FIR (No. 242/2026) registered at Police Station Awantipora under relevant provisions of law. An investigation has been initiated.
In Anantnag, police registered three separate cases at Police Station Aishmuqam following the recovery of charas during checkpoint inspections.
At Brad Bridge, a police team intercepted a person travelling from Hapatnar towards Salia and recovered 274 grams of charas from his possession. He was identified as Manzoor Ahmad Mir, son of Wali Mohd Mir, a resident of Awanpora. Police registered FIR No. 91/2026 under Sections 8 and 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
In another operation at Budreshan, police stopped a Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza bearing registration number JK03G/5052, travelling from Hassannoor towards Aishmuqam. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of approximately nine grams of charas, according to the statement.
The two occupants were identified as Arif Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohd Maqbool Bhat, and Ishan Ahmad Raina, son of Mohd Ibrahim Raina. Both are residents of Laripora, Pahalgam. FIR No. 92/2026 was registered under Sections 8, 20 and 29 of the NDPS Act, and further investigation was taken up.
Separately, a team from Police Station Achabal apprehended Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, son of Ali Mohamad Bhat, a resident of Nunwani Thajiwara, near Iron Bridge, Nunwani, during night patrol operations. Police said approximately 14 grams of charas were recovered from his possession.
An FIR (No. 112/2026) was registered under Sections 8 and 20 of the NDPS Act, and the accused was arrested. Further investigation is underway, the statement said.
Police have appealed to the public to share information about drug peddling and related activities to help facilitate timely action.
