Baramulla drug peddler held under PIT-NDPS Act, lodged at Kot Bhalwal jail
Synopsis
Baramulla police invoked the PIT-NDPS Act to detain Muzamil Majeed Bhat, alias Hashim, a repeat-offender drug peddler with multiple FIRs on record. He is now lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu — part of J&K's widening use of preventive detention and collateral enforcement tools to dismantle drug networks.
Key Takeaways
Muzamil Majeed Bhat , alias Hashim , a resident of Mohalla Mir Sahib, Baramulla , was detained under the PIT-NDPS Act on 23 October 2026 .
Multiple FIRs had previously been registered against him in connection with drug trafficking.
He has been lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu following execution of the detention warrant.
Detention was ordered under Section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act, 1988 , an administrative preventive measure.
Collateral actions can include passport impoundment, driving licence revocation, Aadhaar deactivation, and property forfeiture.
Police in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir have detained an alleged drug peddler under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act on 23 October 2026, as part of an ongoing crackdown on narcotics networks in the region. The detainee has been lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu following the execution of a formal detention warrant.
Who Was Detained
The detained individual has been identified as Muzamil Majeed Bhat, alias Hashim, son of Abdul Majeed Bhat, a resident of Mohalla Mir Sahib, Baramulla. According to police, multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) have previously been registered against him, underlining his alleged sustained involvement in drug trafficking activity in the district.
Legal Framework Invoked
The detention was carried out under Section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act, 1988, which empowers authorised detaining authorities — such as the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir or Jammu — to issue preventive detention orders against individuals suspected of repeat involvement in illicit drug trafficking. Unlike standard criminal arrest, this is an administrative preventive detention measure designed to prevent habitual offenders from re-entering narcotics networks.
Collateral Enforcement Measures in J&K
Beyond detention, J&K authorities routinely invoke a sweeping set of collateral enforcement tools against those held under the PIT-NDPS framework. These include impoundment or revocation of passports under Sections 6 and 10 of the Passports Act, revocation of driving licences under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and deactivation of Aadhaar details via UIDAI. Arms licences may be cancelled by the respective District Magistrate, while contractor licences and government accommodation can also be revoked. Illegally acquired properties and infrastructure linked to drug networks are subject to attachment or forfeiture.
Broader Anti-Drug Drive
Police described the arrest as part of their continuing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and reduce drug abuse across Baramulla district. Authorities also retain the authority to issue Look Out Circulars (LOCs) through the Bureau of Immigration and withdraw police security details by the Inspector General of Police (Security) against drug smugglers and peddlers. This action reflects a pattern of intensified enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir, where preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act has increasingly been used as a tool to neutralise repeat offenders before fresh FIRs can be lodged.
Point of View
It illustrates J&K's increasingly layered approach to drug enforcement — layering preventive administrative detention on top of conventional criminal procedure. The PIT-NDPS Act allows authorities to act before a fresh offence is committed, effectively bypassing bail cycles that have allowed repeat offenders to re-enter trafficking networks. The real test of efficacy, however, lies in whether the collateral measures — property attachment, licence revocations — are consistently pursued or simply listed as available options. Without rigorous follow-through on asset recovery, the deterrent effect remains limited.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in Baramulla under the PIT-NDPS Act?
The detainee is Muzamil Majeed Bhat , alias Hashim, a resident of Mohalla Mir Sahib, Baramulla, against whom multiple FIRs had already been registered for alleged drug trafficking. He was taken into custody and lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu.
What is the PIT-NDPS Act?
The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (PIT-NDPS Act) is an Indian law that allows authorised authorities to issue preventive administrative detention orders against individuals suspected of habitual involvement in drug trafficking. Unlike regular arrest, no fresh criminal offence needs to have occurred for detention to be ordered.
Where has the detained drug peddler been lodged?
Following the execution of the detention warrant, Muzamil Majeed Bhat was lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu, in accordance with legal procedure under the PIT-NDPS Act.
What additional penalties can be imposed under J&K's drug enforcement framework?
Beyond detention, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir can revoke passports, cancel driving licences, deactivate Aadhaar details, cancel arms licences, revoke contractor licences, withdraw government accommodation, attach or forfeit illegally acquired properties, and issue Look Out Circulars through the Bureau of Immigration.
Why is preventive detention used instead of regular arrest for drug peddlers?
Preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act is used when a person with a history of drug trafficking is deemed likely to re-offend. It bypasses the bail cycle that can allow repeat offenders to return to trafficking networks after a regular arrest, giving authorities a longer-term tool to disrupt drug supply chains.
