Six drug peddlers arrested in Anantnag in 24-hour anti-narcotics drive
Synopsis
In a single 24-hour stretch, J&K Police arrested six drug peddlers across Anantnag and recovered over 59 grams of charas — the second consecutive day of mass detentions in the district, with 10 arrests the day before. Authorities say cross-border narcotics networks are directly financing militancy, making this crackdown as much a counter-terror operation as a law-enforcement one.
Key Takeaways
J&K Police arrested six drug peddlers in Anantnag district within 24 hours on 12 October 2026 .
Over 59 grams of charas and charas-like substances were recovered across multiple operations.
Six FIRs have been registered, including FIR No.
103/2026 , 294/2026 , and 296/2026 , under the NDPS Act.
A day earlier, on 11 October 2026 , police had arrested 10 drug peddlers in the same district — bringing the two-day total to 16 arrests .
Authorities allege that large-scale drug smuggling originates from across the Line of Control and that proceeds fund terrorism in J&K.
Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested six drug peddlers in separate anti-narcotics operations across Anantnag district within a 24-hour window ending Monday, 12 October 2026, recovering multiple consignments of charas and charas-like substances totalling over 59 grams. Six First Information Reports have been registered in connection with the cases, and investigations are ongoing.
Key Arrests and Recoveries
A police party from Police Post Janglatmandi apprehended Ashiq Hussain Dar, a resident of Chichiri Pora, during a naka check at Kha Bazar, Anantnag, recovering approximately 7 grams of charas from his possession.
In a separate operation, personnel from Police Station Uttersoo detained Arshad Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Karad, at Kantigund, recovering 10 grams of a charas-like substance. FIR No. 103/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered in this case, according to officials.
Bijbehara Police arrested Mohd Shafi Wani, a resident of Batangoo, near Gund Mohalla in Uranhall, recovering around 15 grams of charas. In another incident, Amir Majeed Lone, a resident of Jablipora, was apprehended near Dara Shikoh Park with approximately 14 grams of a charas-like substance.
Sangam Police Post Detentions
Police Post Sangam detained two individuals in separate incidents: Mudasir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Poshbagh, Baramulla, from whom 7.10 grams of charas were recovered, and Imtiyaz Ahmed Gojjri, a resident of Kansipora, Baramulla, from whom 6.05 grams were seized. Two separate FIRs — No. 294/2026 and No. 296/2026 — have been registered in the Sangam cases.
Wider Anti-Drug Campaign in J&K
The Anantnag arrests come a day after police in the same district detained 10 drug peddlers on Sunday, 11 October 2026, recovering charas, powder, and suspected heroin in those operations. Anantnag Police stated that the drive against drug trafficking would continue.
Notably, J&K Police and security forces have been conducting sustained anti-smuggling operations across the union territory. According to authorities, the primary source of narcotics is believed to lie across the border and the Line of Control (LoC), with funds generated through large-scale drug trafficking networks reportedly used to sustain terrorist activity in the region — a link that adds a security dimension to what are otherwise routine law-enforcement actions.
What Happens Next
All six accused remain in custody as investigators work to trace supply chains and identify potential links to larger trafficking networks. With 16 arrests in Anantnag in two consecutive days, the intensified crackdown signals a sustained operational posture by J&K Police ahead of the winter months, when border movement typically changes character.
Point of View
However, is the officially stated link between narcotics revenue and militant financing: if that chain holds, disrupting drug supply is also a counter-insurgency tool, not merely a public health or law-enforcement matter. What remains unaddressed is whether these street-level arrests are translating into dismantled supply networks, or whether the peddlers are simply being replaced. The absence of seizures at the wholesale or trafficking level — as opposed to gram-quantity recoveries — suggests the crackdown, however welcome, is still catching the bottom of the chain.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drug peddlers were arrested in Anantnag on 12 October 2026?
J&K Police arrested six drug peddlers in separate anti-narcotics operations across Anantnag district within a 24-hour period ending Monday, 12 October 2026. Over 59 grams of charas and charas-like substances were recovered in total.
What substance was recovered in the Anantnag drug operations?
Police recovered charas and charas-like substances from all six accused. Individual recoveries ranged from approximately 6 grams to 15 grams per arrest, according to the official police statement.
Which FIRs were registered in connection with the Anantnag drug arrests?
Six FIRs were registered in total. Named cases include FIR No. 103/2026 (Uttersoo Police Station), and FIR Nos. 294/2026 and 296/2026 (Police Post Sangam), all under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act.
Is there a link between drug trafficking in J&K and terrorism?
According to J&K Police, the primary source of narcotics is believed to be across the border and the Line of Control, with funds from large drug smuggling networks reportedly used to sustain terrorist activity in the region. This is the stated rationale behind sustained anti-narcotics operations across the union territory.
How many drug peddlers were arrested in Anantnag in the two days before this report?
A total of 16 drug peddlers were arrested in Anantnag over two consecutive days — 10 on Sunday, 11 October 2026, and six more on Monday, 12 October 2026. Both rounds of arrests involved recovery of charas and related substances under the NDPS Act.
