Efforts intensified to curb drug, narcotics inflow from across LoC

Srinagar, Feb 10: Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah raised concerns over the use of narcotics to fund terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have intensified efforts to curb any inflow of drugs from across the border.

Measures adopted by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) are on border security with enhanced surveillance so that there are no drug-smuggling attempts as well as infiltrations across the Line of Control (LoC).

Last week, while chairing a security review meeting, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that the government is committed to completely wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.

He had said that due to the sustained and coordinated efforts of the Prime Minister Narendra  Modi government, the terrorism ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir has been significantly weakened. The Home Minister directed all security agencies to step up the fight against terrorism by aiming for the ‘zero infiltration’ goal. He asked all security agencies to take more stringent action on infiltration and acts of terror with a ruthless approach. He said that it should be our goal to uproot the existence of terrorists.

Amit Shah had said that the narco network is providing support to infiltrators and terrorists to carry out their activities. He said that there is a need to take prompt action against terror funding from the proceeds of the narcotics trade with alacrity and rigour.

Senior officials from security establishments said the Army and the JKP said that more steps have been taken to block the inflow of illicit narcotics, which officials say has emerged as a significant source of funding for terror activities in Union Territory.

Pertinently, Police have established multiple Border Police Posts in key areas, working in close coordination with the Army. These posts are an added layer of security against infiltration and cross-border smuggling.

The synergy between the Army and police has been ensuring that border areas remain under strict surveillance. “We are using advanced technology, including drones and night-vision cameras, to monitor any suspicious activity along the LoC," said a senior Army officer here.

"There is an activated multi-layered security setup that includes human intelligence, electronic monitoring, and intensified patrolling to counter both infiltration and drug smuggling," the officer added.

"We have arrested many individuals who were part of drug smuggling networks affiliated with terrorist groups. Their modus operandi is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but we are countering it by gathering proactive intelligence and taking swift action," said a senior police official from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). According to the officials, there is a long way ahead and countering this narco-terror nexus needs sustained coordination among different agencies. "We are working closely with central agencies, intelligence units, and anti-narcotics teams to ensure a comprehensive crackdown," said a top police officer in Srinagar.