Arrested Punjab peddler 'frequented' Kashmir Valley

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, August 8

Five days after a drug peddler from Punjab was arrested with over Rs 1.91 crore in Udhampur, the police have found that he had been a consistent purchaser of drugs from Kashmir, indicating a major narco module between J&K and the neighbouring state.

On August 3, the police had arrested Jagtar Singh, a resident of Pakhopur village in Tarn Taran, with Rs 1,91,34,030 and 250-gm heroin. The supplier of drugs, Mukhtiar Ahmed, a resident of Prada Tangdhar in Kupwara, who had come to collect the money from Jagtar, was crushed to death in an accident while trying to flee.

Jagtar informed the police that he had two trucks and an SUV (impounded during his arrest) that were used to carry drugs from Kashmir to Punjab. Udhampur SSP Vinod Kumar said Jagtar was a truck driver. “He used to visit J&K and carried drugs to Punjab. He has admitted that earlier also he has carried consignments of heroin to his state,” said the SSP.

The police are also trying to figure out if Jagtar is part of a bigger nexus where drug peddlers in Punjab use truck drivers to carry contraband to their state, routed into J&K from Pakistan. The neighbouring country has in the recent past tried to push consignments of drugs from the LoC and the International Border to this side. In May this year, the Army and the police had seized 44 kg of heroin in Poonch sent by Pakistan to local peddlers.

Meanwhile, sources said the drug nexus was part of a narco-terror module being operated by Pakistan in connivance with a Kashmir-based terror organisation. The money collected from the sale of drugs to the peddlers in Kashmir and Punjab is used for fuelling terror and secessionist activities.

Carried drugs to state

Jagtar Singh used to visit J&K and carried drugs to Punjab. He has admitted that earlier also he has carried consignments of heroin to his state. Vinod Kumar, Udhampur SSP

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