Baramulla drug bust: Two peddlers held, SRTC driver used govt bus to ferry charas
Synopsis
An SRTC bus driver in J&K's Baramulla was allegedly ferrying charas in a government vehicle — a brazen exploitation of public infrastructure for drug trafficking. Police arrested him and a second peddler from Fatehgarh, registering FIR No. 21/2026 under the NDPS Act, as J&K's anti-drug crackdown intensifies under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan.
Key Takeaways
Baramulla police arrested two drug peddlers on 19 May 2026 during a naka check in the Fatehgarh area .
First accused Sajad Ahmad Malik was found with two sticks of charas-like substance wrapped in corn husk.
Second accused Mohd Shafi Lone , an SRTC bus driver , was allegedly using a government vehicle to transport contraband.
Case registered as FIR No.
21/2026 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sheeri.
Arrests are part of J&K's ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan , which mandates cancellation of passports, licences, and property attachment for drug smugglers.
Baramulla police arrested two drug peddlers in J&K's Baramulla district on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, recovering a charas-like substance from both accused — one of whom allegedly used a government SRTC bus to transport contraband. The arrests came during a naka/patrolling check set up by Police Station Sheeri in the Fatehgarh area.
How the Arrests Unfolded
During routine naka checking in Fatehgarh, a police party apprehended the first accused, Sajad Ahmad Malik, son of A. Jabbar Malik, a resident of Fatehgarh. A search of his person yielded two sticks of charas-like substance wrapped in corn husk.
Acting on Malik's disclosure, investigators traced a second individual — Mohd Shafi Lone, son of Abdul Jabbar Lone, a resident of Malpora — who was working as an SRTC bus driver. Lone was apprehended from the backward link of the Fatehgarh area, and a further stick of charas-like substance was recovered from him during a personal search.
Government Vehicle Allegedly Used as Smuggling Conduit
Preliminary investigation revealed that Lone was allegedly using a government SRTC vehicle for the transportation of contraband substances for sale and purchase, according to police. The allegation, if proven, points to a serious breach of public trust — a state-owned transport asset being exploited for drug trafficking.
A case has been registered as FIR No. 21/2026 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sheeri. Further investigation is under way.
Baramulla Police's Ongoing Anti-Drug Drive
The arrests are part of Baramulla police's sustained crackdown on drug peddling across the district. In its statement, the force reiterated its commitment to 'eliminating the menace of drugs from society' and urged citizens to share any information related to drug trafficking or criminal activity in their localities.
This comes amid a broader, territory-wide offensive by J&K Police and security forces against drug smugglers and peddlers. Notably, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while launching the 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan, had announced that drug smugglers face additional punishments including cancellation of passports, driving licences, and Aadhaar cards, as well as attachment of property acquired through drug trade proceeds.
Wider Context
J&K has seen a persistent drug trafficking challenge, with contraband — particularly charas — moving through both rural and urban corridors. The alleged use of a government bus as a vehicle for smuggling underscores how traffickers adapt to evade detection, embedding themselves within legitimate public infrastructure. Security agencies have been ramping up naka operations precisely to disrupt such networks at the grassroots level.
With the investigation ongoing, police are expected to probe the full supply chain behind both accused and determine whether a larger trafficking network is involved.
Point of View
But ground-level interception still depends on naka checks that are inherently reactive. The real question investigators should be asking is not just who these two men are, but how long the route was operational and who else in the supply chain remains at large.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two drug peddlers arrested in Baramulla?
The two accused are Sajad Ahmad Malik , a resident of Fatehgarh, and Mohd Shafi Lone , a resident of Malpora who worked as an SRTC bus driver. Both were apprehended by Baramulla police during a naka check in the Fatehgarh area on 19 May 2026.
What substance was recovered from the accused?
Police recovered a charas-like substance from both accused — two sticks wrapped in corn husk from Sajad Ahmad Malik and one additional stick from Mohd Shafi Lone. The substance is described as 'resembling charas' pending formal forensic confirmation.
How was the SRTC driver allegedly involved in drug trafficking?
Preliminary investigation revealed that Mohd Shafi Lone allegedly used his government SRTC vehicle to transport contraband substances for sale and purchase, according to police. He was traced after the first accused disclosed his identity during interrogation.
What legal action has been taken?
Police have registered FIR No. 21/2026 under Section 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Sheeri, Baramulla. Further investigation is ongoing.
What is the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan?
It is a 100-day anti-drug campaign launched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha aimed at eliminating drug trafficking in J&K. The campaign empowers authorities to cancel passports, driving licences, and Aadhaar cards of convicted smugglers, and to attach property acquired through drug trade proceeds.
