J&K Police arrest four drug peddlers in Bandipora, Sopore; 4 kg charas seized
Synopsis
J&K Police arrested four drug peddlers in two separate operations in Bandipora and Sopore on 4 July, seizing over 4 kg of charas. The busts — both triggered by routine naka-checking and patrolling — highlight how ground-level policing is driving the valley's anti-narcotics push.
Key Takeaways
J&K Police arrested four drug peddlers across Bandipora and Sopore on 4 July 2026 .
4.090 kg of charas recovered from three accused at Madwan, Hajin during naka-checking.
Accused in Bandipora identified as Sayar Ahmad Malla , Mehraj Ud Din Hajam , and Aamir Tariq Ganie ; FIR No.
87/2026 registered at Police Station Hajin.
Fourth accused Aaqib Rasool Sheikh arrested at Butpora, Sopore ; FIR No.
166/2026 registered at Police Station Sopore.
Further investigation is underway in both cases.
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday, 4 July 2026 arrested four drug peddlers across Bandipora and Sopore districts, recovering over 4 kg of charas during separate naka-checking and patrolling operations. The arrests mark the latest step in the force's sustained anti-narcotics drive across the Kashmir Valley.
The Bandipora Arrests
A police party from Police Station Hajin intercepted three individuals during naka-checking at Madwan in the Hajin area after noticing suspicious movement. The suspects attempted to flee but were apprehended. A subsequent search yielded 4.090 kg of a charas powder-like substance from their possession.
The three accused have been identified as Sayar Ahmad Malla, son of Abdul Rahim Malla, resident of Madwan; Mehraj Ud Din Hajam, son of Ghulam Mohammad Hajam, resident of Madwan; and Aamir Tariq Ganie, son of Tariq Ganie, resident of Bangar Mohalla, Hajin. A case under FIR No. 87/2026 has been registered at Police Station Hajin, and all three are in custody.
Sopore Operation
In a separate action, police patrolling at Butpora, Sopore apprehended a fourth drug peddler. A charas-like substance was recovered from his possession and seized as per due legal procedure. The accused has been identified as Aaqib Rasool Sheikh, son of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, resident of Shahabad, Sopore. FIR No. 166/2026 has been registered at Police Station Sopore.
Part of a Wider Anti-Drug Drive
The operations are part of a sustained crackdown that J&K Police has been conducting across the valley against drug trafficking networks. Notably, both operations relied on field intelligence and routine naka-checking — underscoring that ground-level patrolling remains the primary tool in disrupting supply chains at the local level.
Police have appealed to the public to share any information related to drug peddling or other unlawful activities. Further investigation in both cases is currently underway.
Point of View
But the real signal is in the method: both busts came from routine naka-checking and foot patrolling, not tip-offs or intelligence-led raids. That suggests J&K's drug supply chain at the retail end is still fragmented and street-level — which is both a vulnerability for traffickers and a limitation for police trying to move up the chain. Disrupting peddlers without tracing supply routes risks a whack-a-mole dynamic. The FIR numbers — 87 and 166 in mid-year — also hint at a high volume of drug-related cases being logged across the valley in 2026.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much charas was seized in the Bandipora drug bust?
Police recovered 4.090 kg of a charas powder-like substance from three accused during naka-checking at Madwan in the Hajin area of Bandipora on 4 July 2026. The contraband was seized as per legal procedure and a case registered under FIR No. 87/2026.
Who were the accused arrested in Bandipora?
The three accused are Sayar Ahmad Malla (resident of Madwan), Mehraj Ud Din Hajam (resident of Madwan), and Aamir Tariq Ganie (resident of Bangar Mohalla, Hajin). All three attempted to flee during naka-checking before being apprehended by a police party from Police Station Hajin.
Who was arrested in Sopore and what was recovered?
Aaqib Rasool Sheikh, son of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh and a resident of Shahabad, Sopore, was arrested during police patrolling at Butpora, Sopore. A charas-like substance was recovered from his possession; FIR No. 166/2026 has been registered at Police Station Sopore.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
Two separate FIRs have been registered — FIR No. 87/2026 at Police Station Hajin for the Bandipora case and FIR No. 166/2026 at Police Station Sopore. All four accused are in custody and further investigation is underway in both cases.
Is J&K Police running a broader anti-drug campaign?
Yes. According to police statements, these arrests are part of a sustained drive against drug trafficking across Jammu and Kashmir. Police have also appealed to the public to share information on drug peddling or other unlawful activities to support the crackdown.
