Pulwama police book 2 drug offenders under PIT-NDPS Act in J&K crackdown
Synopsis
Pulwama police have invoked the stringent PIT-NDPS Act against two habitual drug offenders from Kakapora, lodging them in Central Jail Kot Bhalwal without bail. The move is part of J&K's 100-day Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan, which has so far produced over 2,300 FIRs, 2,600 arrests, and ₹200 crore in property attachments — signalling a shift from prosecution to pre-emptive detention.
Key Takeaways
Pulwama police detained Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar and Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh under the PIT-NDPS Act, 1988 on 3 August .
Both are residents of Kakapora, Pulwama and repeat offenders with multiple NDPS cases at Police Station Kakapora .
Detention orders were issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir ; both are lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu .
The 100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan has registered over 2,300 FIRs , made 2,600+ arrests , and seized 1,500 kg of narcotics .
331 properties worth approximately ₹200 crore have been attached; nearly 3,000 Aadhaar cards recommended for cancellation.
Pulwama police in Jammu & Kashmir have detained two repeat narcotics offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988, as part of a sustained campaign against drug trafficking in the region. The detention orders were issued on Monday, 3 August by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and both individuals have since been lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.
Who Was Detained
The two individuals named in the detention orders are Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, son of Ali Mohammad Dar, a resident of Kakapora, Pulwama, and Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh, son of Habib Ullah Sheikh, also a resident of Bongam Hanji Mohalla, Kakapora, Pulwama. According to a police statement, both are repeat offenders with multiple cases registered against them under the NDPS Act at Police Station Kakapora.
Why the PIT-NDPS Act Was Invoked
The PIT-NDPS Act allows authorities to detain habitual narcotics offenders without bail as a preventive measure, bypassing the slower process of criminal trial. Police cited the duo's persistent involvement in illicit drug trafficking as the basis for invoking the stricter legislation. This approach signals a deliberate shift from reactive prosecution to pre-emptive detention for entrenched offenders.
Scale of J&K's Anti-Drug Drive
The detentions come against the backdrop of the 100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, a sweeping anti-narcotics campaign that has generated significant enforcement numbers. According to police data, the drive resulted in over 2,300 FIRs registered against drug networks, more than 2,600 arrests, and the seizure of 1,500 kg of narcotics by security and police forces. Additionally, 331 illegal properties valued at approximately ₹200 crore — linked to narco-terrorists and drug smugglers — were attached.
Authorities also cancelled over 370 driving licences and 750 vehicle registrations, and recommended cancellation of nearly 3,000 Aadhaar cards tied to offenders. Punishments in J&K for drug-related offences extend to attachment of immovable property, imprisonment, preventive detention, and cancellation of passports and official identity documents.
Police Stance and Public Appeal
Pulwama police reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and stated that stringent legal and preventive action would continue against all those involved in the illegal narcotics trade. The force has also appealed to the public to share credible tip-offs to help build what officials described as a 'drug-free society.' This is the latest in a series of PIT-NDPS detentions across the Kashmir Valley, reflecting a broader administrative push to dismantle established drug supply chains.
Point of View
Administrative detention moves faster. The numbers from the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan are striking, but headline figures like 2,600 arrests and ₹200 crore in attachments need independent verification to assess whether they represent dismantled networks or surface-level sweeps. The real test of the crackdown will be whether drug supply chains in Pulwama and the broader Valley show measurable disruption — not just a rising count of detentions.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PIT-NDPS Act and why was it used in Pulwama?
The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988 allows authorities to detain habitual drug traffickers preventively, without the bail protections available under ordinary criminal law. Pulwama police invoked it against two repeat NDPS offenders to prevent them from continuing illicit drug activities while criminal proceedings remain ongoing.
Who are the two individuals detained under the PIT-NDPS Act in Pulwama?
The two detainees are Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, son of Ali Mohammad Dar, and Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh, son of Habib Ullah Sheikh — both residents of Kakapora, Pulwama. They are described as repeat offenders with multiple cases registered at Police Station Kakapora under the NDPS Act.
Where are the detainees being held?
Following the execution of detention orders issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, both individuals have been lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu.
What has J&K's Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan achieved so far?
The 100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan has, according to police data, resulted in over 2,300 FIRs, more than 2,600 arrests, seizure of 1,500 kg of narcotics, and attachment of 331 properties worth approximately ₹200 crore. Authorities have also cancelled over 370 driving licences and 750 vehicle registrations, and recommended cancellation of nearly 3,000 Aadhaar cards linked to offenders.
What penalties can drug traffickers face in Jammu & Kashmir?
Drug traffickers in J&K face a range of penalties including imprisonment, preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act, attachment of immovable property acquired through drug money, and cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards, driving licences, and vehicle registrations.
