Reasi Police Book Drug Peddler Under PIT NDPS Act, Sent to Bhaderwah Jail
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir, the District Police Reasi has booked a notorious drug peddler under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act and lodged him in District Jail Bhaderwah. The action was taken on April 24, 2025, under Order No. 12 of 2026 issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, as part of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan.
Identity of the Accused
The accused has been identified as Sudershan Singh alias Vishal, 31 years old, son of Sundar Singh, originally a resident of Palapadhi, Chinkah, Arnas, and currently residing at Trintha, Reasi. He was found to be involved in multiple NDPS Act cases registered across several police stations in the district.
Despite having been booked on numerous prior occasions and repeatedly warned by law enforcement to cease his illegal activities, Sudershan Singh continued to supply banned and prohibited narcotic substances to local youth for financial gain. His persistent defiance of the law prompted authorities to invoke the more severe preventive detention provisions of the PIT NDPS Act.
Investigation and Action Taken
The entire investigation was conducted by Probationary Sub-Inspector Rahul Jamwal, leading a team under Station House Officer, Police Station Reasi, Inspector Khyatimaan Khajuria. The operation was carried out under the close supervision of Deputy SP Headquarters Reasi, Vishal Singh Jamwal, and Additional SP Reasi, Iftikhar Ahmed, JKPS.
The crackdown was executed on the direct directions of SSP Reasi, Mukund Tibrewal, IPS, who has been spearheading an aggressive multi-pronged strategy against the drug menace in the district. This action marks yet another significant achievement in the district police's sustained anti-drug campaign.
Reasi Police's Multi-Pronged Anti-Drug Strategy
SSP Reasi Mukund Tibrewal stated that the police are simultaneously conducting awareness programmes across the district while pursuing strict legal action against drug traffickers on a regular basis. The dual approach aims to both prevent new users from falling into addiction and dismantle the supply chain at its roots.
Reasi Police have also launched a dedicated Anti Drug Helpline Number: 9070907017, where the identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential. The helpline is designed to encourage community participation in the fight against drug abuse, particularly among the youth.
SSP Tibrewal issued a stern warning to drug peddlers, stating that there is absolutely no place for them in Reasi. He urged those involved in destroying the future of the district's youth to return to the mainstream, warning that those who continue will face firm legal consequences.
Broader Context: Drug Menace in J&K
This arrest is part of a wider, intensifying crackdown on drug trafficking across Jammu and Kashmir, where authorities have been battling a growing narcotics crisis, particularly among young people in semi-urban and rural areas. The Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan has seen multiple district police units invoking the PIT NDPS Act — a preventive detention law — against repeat offenders who evade conviction through legal loopholes.
The use of the PIT NDPS Act is significant because it allows authorities to detain individuals without trial for up to one year when conventional NDPS Act prosecutions have failed to deter them. Critics and civil liberties advocates have at times raised concerns about preventive detention laws, but law enforcement agencies argue that repeat drug peddlers who continue operating despite multiple FIRs leave authorities with no alternative.
Notably, Reasi district — which gained global attention as the site of the Shiv Khori temple and the Reasi bus attack of June 2024 — has been under heightened security and administrative scrutiny, making the police's anti-drug drive a critical component of restoring normalcy and safety in the region.
What Happens Next
With Sudershan Singh now lodged in Bhaderwah Jail under preventive detention, Reasi Police are expected to continue building cases against other identified drug suppliers in the district. The Anti Drug Helpline 9070907017 is expected to generate fresh leads, and more detentions under the PIT NDPS Act could follow in the coming weeks as the Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan intensifies ahead of summer, a period when drug trafficking typically sees a seasonal uptick in the region.