Jalandhar sees rise in seizure of contraband coming from J&K ›

The easy availability of cheaper poppy husk in Jammu and Kashmir has made this route favourite among peddlers. GURPREET SINGH BHULLAR, Jalandhar SSP

JALANDHAR: The drug smugglers have found an easy route from Jammu and Kashmir to keep the inflow of poppy husk up in the state.

The proximity of J&K with Punjab has facilitated the supply of contraband which was earlier being smuggled from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The details gathered from police have revealed that around 1,164 kg poppy husk has been recovered in the past six months and six ‘peddlers’ from Jammu and Kashmir besides five locals have been arrested.

The latest case of recovery was reported on September 13 when the police had arrested three drug peddlers including two Jammu and Kashmir residents and seized a quintal of poppy husk, ₹5.25 lakh and a truck. The third accused was their Jalandhar-based accomplice.

However, the biggest recovery made since March was of 435kg when the rural police and a counter intelligence wing in a joint operation arrested a Jammu and Kashmir resident, Kimti Lal, from the cabin of the truck he was driving on August 28 this year.

Lal was driving the truck owned by Javed Ahmed of GPR Transport, Sarore Adda in Jammu, since May and was being paid ₹10,000 per month. The police had also booked Ahmed in the case.

On August 17, two drug peddlers were arrested and 218-kg poppy husk was seized by the rural police. The accused hailed from Kapurthala and had brought the husk from Jammu and Kashmir.

Before this, on June 11, 3.23 quintal of poppy husk was seized from a Honda City car where the drug was lying packed in gunny bags. Four persons were arrested in this case.

Besides, the police have also recovered 300-gm heroin from two J&K residents.

Since March 16, the police have so far recovered 1,550kg of poppy husk out of which, 1,164kg was smuggled from Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior superintendent of police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that peddlers find this route easier and accessible.

“Moreover, poppy husk is also available at cheaper rates than the earlier routes,” he added.