KULGAM, APR 10 : In a major blow to the regional narcotics trade, the Kulgam Police have dismantled a sophisticated drug network, arresting five peddlers and uncovering critical “backward linkages” that stretch across district lines.
The crackdown, part of an intensified “War on Drugs,” also saw the immediate sealing of a medical establishment for flagrant violations of pharmaceutical regulations.
The operation, led under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anayat Ali Choudhary, marks a shift in strategy from simple street-level arrests to the systemic dismantling of “backward linkages.”
By tracing the origins of seized contraband, investigators were able to push beyond local borders, executing a high-stakes raid in the Sirhama area of Anantnag that neutralized key suppliers and halted a large-scale distribution network.
The crackdown began with a series of tactical interceptions at key transit points.
At the Furrah New Bypass and Akhran, police apprehended Danish Khurshid and Faruk Ali—a resident of North-West Delhi—recovering significant quantities of cannabis powder, heroin, and over ₹22,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
A third suspect, Abdul Qayoom Shah, was intercepted at the Kurigam Railway Bridge with cannabis meticulously concealed within corn husks.
These initial arrests provided the intelligence necessary to launch a wider manhunt, leading to the identification and capture of Mohd Iqbal Rather and Mukhtar Ahmad Wagay, who were found in possession of a bulk haul of 1.212 kilograms of cannabis.
Parallel to the field operations, the Kulgam Police collaborated with the Drug Control Department to target the “pharma-terror” threat posed by the unregulated sale of psychotropic drugs.
During a rigorous inspection drive in the Qaimoh area, authorities focused on the illicit diversion of Schedule H medicines.
The operation resulted in the immediate sealing of RH Medical Store for severe regulatory failures, including the lack of mandatory sales records.
Several other establishments are now facing license suspensions as the police tighten their grip on any legitimate business facilitating the drug crisis.
SSP Anayat Ali Choudhary reaffirmed the department’s “zero tolerance” policy, emphasizing that the police remain committed to sanitizing the district of narcotics.
He issued a stern warning to those operating behind the scenes, noting that the exposure of these supply chains is only the beginning of a sustained campaign to protect the youth of Kulgam.
The police have called upon the public to act as their eyes and ears, stressing that community involvement is vital to permanently breaking the back of the narcotics trade in South Kashmir.
