Srinagar anti-drug crackdown: ₹13.43 crore in properties attached under NDPS Act
Synopsis
Srinagar police attached and froze properties worth over ₹13.43 crore in a single day's NDPS Act action spanning six police stations — with ₹8 crore alone linked to one station. The move targets the financial backbone of drug trafficking networks, not just the traffickers themselves, signalling a shift toward asset-led deterrence across J&K.
Key Takeaways
Srinagar police attached properties worth over ₹13.43 crore under the NDPS Act on 15 October 2026 .
Six police stations — Khanyar, Pantha Chowk, Shalteng, Safakadal, Soura, and Ahmadnagar — carried out the coordinated action.
The largest share — approximately ₹8 crore — was linked to cases at Police Station Khanyar .
Proceedings were initiated under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act, targeting assets allegedly acquired through drug trafficking proceeds.
Anti-narcotics operations have been simultaneously intensified in Pulwama, Baramulla, Awantipora, and Bandipora districts.
Srinagar police on Thursday, 15 October 2026, announced the attachment and freezing of properties worth over ₹13.43 crore under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, marking one of the more significant asset-seizure actions in the city's ongoing anti-narcotics campaign. The operation spanned multiple subdivisions across Srinagar, targeting assets allegedly acquired through proceeds of illicit drug trafficking.
Key Developments in the Operation
According to an official police statement, the action was carried out by six police stations — Khanyar, Pantha Chowk, Shalteng, Safakadal, Soura, and Ahmadnagar. The assets were identified through financial investigations, with proceedings initiated under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act following prescribed legal procedures.
'The assets were identified during financial investigations as allegedly acquired through proceeds of illicit drug trafficking. Proceedings were initiated under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act, following prescribed legal procedures,' the police statement said.
Breakdown of Attached Properties
The bulk of the attached assets — approximately ₹8 crore — were linked to cases registered at Police Station Khanyar. A residential property worth ₹1.24 crore in the Pantha Chowk area and another valued at ₹1.21 crore under Police Station Shalteng were also included in the action.
Additionally, properties worth around ₹10.15 lakh were frozen in the Safakadal area, while attachments worth ₹1.80 crore were carried out across two cases under Police Station Ahmadnagar. A residential property valued at over ₹1.18 crore was also attached under Police Station Soura.
Broader J&K Anti-Narcotics Push
The Srinagar action is part of a wider intensification of anti-narcotics operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces across the Union Territory. In Pulwama district, authorities have stepped up raids, vehicle checks, and property attachments targeting known peddlers. In Baramulla, operations are focused on disrupting both cross-border and local narcotics supply chains.
In Awantipora, the strategy combines tracking local dealers with youth awareness initiatives, while in Bandipora, special surveillance and combing operations are targeting contraband distribution across rural and urban pockets. This multi-district approach signals a coordinated effort to dismantle the financial and logistical networks that sustain drug trafficking in the region.
Why the Financial Crackdown Matters
Notably, the use of Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act — which allow for attachment and forfeiture of illegally acquired property — goes beyond conventional drug seizures by targeting the economic infrastructure of trafficking networks. Experts argue that hitting traffickers' assets is a more effective long-term deterrent than arrest-and-release cycles, as it removes the profit motive. This is the latest in a series of similar actions police have undertaken across J&K in recent months.
Police reiterated their commitment to sustaining the crackdown, with further operations expected as financial investigations into identified networks continue.
Point of View
Not just the mules. Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act are powerful instruments, but their effectiveness depends on how quickly the courts confirm these attachments and whether forfeiture proceedings are seen through to conclusion. The risk, as with many such actions across India, is that property freezes become procedural headlines rather than permanent dismantling of networks. The breadth of the operation — spanning Srinagar plus four other districts simultaneously — does suggest institutional coordination rather than isolated policing, which is a stronger signal than it might first appear.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What properties were attached in the Srinagar anti-drug crackdown?
Srinagar police attached and froze properties worth over ₹13.43 crore on 15 October 2026, allegedly linked to drug trafficking proceeds. The assets were spread across six police station jurisdictions — Khanyar, Pantha Chowk, Shalteng, Safakadal, Soura, and Ahmadnagar.
Under which law were the properties seized in Srinagar?
The properties were attached under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, specifically Sections 68-E and 68-F, which allow for the attachment and forfeiture of assets allegedly acquired through illicit drug trafficking.
Which police station had the largest share of attached assets?
Police Station Khanyar accounted for the largest portion — approximately ₹8 crore of the total ₹13.43 crore attached. A residential property worth ₹1.24 crore was attached in the Pantha Chowk area, and another valued at ₹1.21 crore under Police Station Shalteng.
Is the crackdown limited to Srinagar?
No. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have simultaneously intensified anti-narcotics operations across Pulwama, Baramulla, Awantipora, and Bandipora districts, targeting cross-border supply chains, local dealers, and contraband distribution networks.
Why does targeting property matter in the fight against drug trafficking?
Attaching assets under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act targets the financial networks that sustain drug trafficking, removing the profit motive. Law enforcement experts argue this approach acts as a stronger long-term deterrent than arrest-and-release cycles alone.
