Anantnag Police on Thursday, 7 May 2026, arrested 10 individuals across multiple operations targeting illegal opium poppy cultivation in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. The arrests span three police stations — Mattan, Larnoo, and Kokernag — and are part of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan, a 100-day anti-drug campaign launched by the administration.

Key Arrests and Cases

Police Station Mattan arrested Ghulam Nabi Mir, a resident of Nanil, in connection with FIR No. 47/2026 under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act. The case pertains to illegal poppy cultivation detected during a joint verification conducted by police alongside officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments, carried out in the presence of an Executive Magistrate.

Police Station Larnoo arrested two accused: Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh alias Ama Khuja, a resident of Dessu, linked to FIR No. 24/2026, and Nisar Ahmad Beigh, a resident of Khrety Larnoo, linked to FIR No. 22/2026 — both under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act.

In the largest single operation, Police Station Kokernag arrested seven persons across three separate NDPS cases. The accused — Nazir Ahmad Bhat, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Mohd Amin Bhat, Reyaz Ahmad Bhat, Shakeel Ahmad Wani, Farooq Ahmad Wani, and another Nazir Ahmad Bhat — are all residents of the Sagam and Panzgam areas of Kokernag.

The 100-Day Anti-Drug Campaign

The arrests are part of the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan, an aggressive 100-day drive during which police have been conducting sustained operations against drug smugglers, peddlers, and those engaged in the cultivation of marijuana (Charas) and poppy for opium production. According to police, all accused were formally arrested after completion of legal formalities, and further investigation is underway.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while launching the campaign, announced that punitive measures would go beyond legal action. These include cancellation of Aadhaar card, passport, and driving licence, as well as attachment of properties acquired through drug trafficking proceeds — marking a significant escalation in the administration's deterrence strategy.

Anantnag Police's Broader Commitment

Anantnag Police stated that it remains committed to eradicating the menace of narcotics cultivation and has urged members of the public to share any information related to drug cultivation or trafficking to enable timely legal action. This comes amid a broader pattern of intensified counter-narcotics enforcement across Jammu and Kashmir, where poppy cultivation in remote agricultural areas has long posed a law enforcement challenge.

With investigations ongoing across all three police stations, further arrests in connection with these and linked cases cannot be ruled out.