2200 FIRs registered, 3200 arrested in 2 years: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 17: In a war on drugs, around 2200 FIRs have been registered and 3200 arrested in Kashmir in the last two years.

The action has been taken in a mission mode launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police against substance abuse.

In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said that the Police had been working on a mission mode to curb the menace of drug abuse in the society.

“It is our continuous effort to tighten the noose against the peddlers and we have acted tough against the peddlers,” he said.

The IGP Kashmir said around 2200 FIR including around 900 in 2024, were registered in the last two years.

“We have arrested around 3200 persons in these cases who were indulging in drug peddling,” he said.

The IGP Kashmir said that besides registration of cases and making arrests, the J&K Police also seized illegally obtained 150 properties of drug peddlers in the last two years.

“The financial value of the property was around Rs 40 crore,” he said.

The IGP Kashmir said the major contributors to the action were Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag, and Shopian districts.

“Action was also taken in other parts of Kashmir by J&K Police,” he said.

The Kashmir Police chief said that the Police also registered cases under PIT NDPS against 400 persons.

“Police, along with other concerned, also destroyed poppy on 8000 kanal land at different places," he said.

The IGP Kashmir said that besides launching an operation all out on drugs in the plains, the Police acted tough and were alert along the LoC to foil the narcotics trade.

“We have been acting tough against the villagers living near the LoC. Recently, major action was taken against the accused in the Karnah area of Kupwara district. We are dealing harshly with those who indulge in drug peddling,” he said.

Recently, the J&K Police organised training sessions with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to sharpen the investigation skills so that strict action is taken against the drug peddlers.

“The training sessions with NCB will be held again so that the officers get more training to investigate these cases which will help us while putting these cases before the court of law,” the IGP Kashmir said.