Authorities in Jammu & Kashmir escalated their crackdown on narcotics on Tuesday, 16 June, with Anantnag Police invoking the PIT-NDPS Act against a habitual drug trafficker and the Rajouri district administration suspending licences of two medical stores for selling habit-forming medicines without valid prescriptions. The twin actions signal a coordinated push across the Union Territory to dismantle both street-level trafficking and pharmacy-level misuse.

Anantnag: Habitual Trafficker Detained Under PIT-NDPS

Nisar Ahmad Gagroo, son of Ali Mohammad Gagroo, a resident of Soaf Shali, Kokernag, has been booked under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act after Anantnag Police compiled a dossier documenting his involvement in multiple cases registered under the NDPS Act. The preventive detention provision was invoked after the competent authority granted the necessary approval.

Gagroo is currently lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, where the detention warrant was formally executed. Authorities said the preventive detention measure was specifically aimed at cutting off his ability to continue drug trafficking operations, which they described as posing a serious threat to the youth. This is the latest in a series of PIT-NDPS bookings by Anantnag Police as part of its stated zero-tolerance policy on narcotics.

Rajouri: Two Medical Stores Lose Licences After Surprise Inspections

In Rajouri, Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma suspended the retail drug sale licences of M/s Hopewell Medicos, Kheora, and M/s Star Medicos, Gujjar Mandi, following surprise inspections conducted in Rajouri town. The inspections were carried out in the presence of Chief Medical Officer Dr Manohar Lal Rana and the Station House Officer, Rajouri.

Officials scrutinised sale and distribution records for regulated medicines and examined stock registers to verify compliance. Authorities found serious discrepancies at both establishments, including failure to maintain mandatory sale records through a computerised billing system and alleged irregularities in the sale of habit-forming drugs — violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Both licences have been suspended pending further orders from the Licensing Authority.

What Officials Said

Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma warned that any medical establishment found violating licence conditions or selling restricted medicines without authorisation would face stringent legal action. He directed all chemists and pharmacy operators across the district to maintain proper records, ensure transparency through computerised billing, and comply with all licensing requirements without exception.

Sharma added that surprise inspections of medical establishments would continue across Rajouri district to ensure strict enforcement of the law and safeguard public health.

Broader Context

The actions come amid a sustained anti-narcotics drive across Jammu & Kashmir, where both law enforcement and civil administration have increasingly targeted the supply chain at multiple levels — from street peddlers to regulated pharmacies. Notably, invoking the PIT-NDPS Act against repeat offenders allows authorities to detain individuals without bail for extended periods, reflecting the seriousness with which habitual traffickers are being treated. The pharmacy crackdown, meanwhile, addresses a growing concern about the over-the-counter availability of prescription habit-forming drugs, a problem that has been flagged in several districts across India.

With inspections set to continue and more dossiers reportedly being prepared, further action across both Anantnag and Rajouri is expected in the weeks ahead.