NIA arrests key operative of Handwara narco-terror module

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17

Anti-terror probe agency NIA on Friday said it had arrested key accused Adaq Ahmad Wani in the Handwara drug case pertaining to seizure of 21 kg of heroin and cash worth over Rs 1.35 crore from the members of a drugs syndicate operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

The arrested accused Wani, a resident of Maratgam in Handwara, was produced before a special court in Jammu on Friday and we got a 12-day remand for his custodial interrogation, the NIA said in an official statement.

“The case is related to seizure of drugs on June 11 this year when the Handwara police naka party intercepted a white-colour Hyunadi Creta vehicle, without registration number plate, going towards Handwara from Baramulla,” the agency said.

The vehicle was being driven by one local man of Srinagar Abdul Momin Peer and during search, a black-colour bag was found, which was concealed under the front seat of the vehicle. Cash amounting to Rs 20,01,000 and heroin weighing 6.2 kg were seized and Abdul Momin Peer was arrested, it added.

Subsequently, J&K Police arrested two more accused persons Iftiqar Andrabi and Peer Islam-ul-Haq of Handwara. The houses of the accused were also searched, leading to recovery of more cash and heroin.

The NIA took over the case on June 23 and started investigation.

The NIA said the arrested accused Wani, who worked as the branch manager of Central Co-operative Bank at Handwara, was absconding since June 11. He was located and arrested from his hide-out in Srinagar on July 16, it added.

Earlier, the probe agency had also recovered cash amount of Rs 30,30,000 and seized heroin weighing 3.20 kg from his house at Handwara.