Poonch Police in Jammu & Kashmir executed a detention order under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988, arresting habitual drug peddler Asif Khan from Mumbai on Monday, 27 July. Khan, a resident of Village Bufliaz, Tehsil Surankote, District Poonch, had reportedly fled J&K to evade the detention warrant before being tracked down and brought back.

Background and Detention Order

The detention order against Asif Khan, son of Mohd Younas, was issued by the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, citing his repeated involvement in illicit drug trafficking and his sustained role in promoting the narcotics trade in Poonch district. According to the police statement, Khan is a habitual offender with multiple cases registered against him under the NDPS Act.

Authorities noted that Khan had been actively luring vulnerable youth — particularly young residents of the district — into drug abuse and trafficking, posing what the police described as a grave threat to public health, public order, and the social fabric of the region.

How Poonch Police Tracked Him to Mumbai

Following the issuance of the detention order, Khan allegedly absconded from J&K and took shelter in Mumbai in a bid to frustrate the execution of the warrant. Poonch Police maintained continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering on his movements.

Acting on specific intelligence confirming his presence in Mumbai, a special team from District Police Poonch was constituted and deployed to the city. Through meticulous planning, technical surveillance, and close coordination with local Mumbai police, the team successfully traced and apprehended Khan before transporting him back to J&K following all due legal procedures.

Detention and Current Status

After completing the requisite legal formalities, the detention order under the PIT-NDPS Act was formally executed. Khan has since been lodged in District Jail Dhangri. The operation marks a significant inter-state enforcement action by a district-level police unit.

Poonch Police Reiterates Zero-Tolerance Stance

District Police Poonch stated that the successful execution of the detention order from outside J&K underscores the professionalism and coordinated efforts of the force in dismantling drug trafficking networks. The police reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers and urged the public, parents, educational institutions, and civil society members to share credible information on drug peddling, assuring strict confidentiality for informants.

This arrest reflects a broader crackdown on narcotics networks operating across state lines, with J&K police increasingly deploying inter-state operations to ensure that fleeing to other parts of the country does not shield offenders from justice.