Drug money being used to fund terror in J&K, says DGP

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 18

Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh today admitted anti-national forces are “utilising” money earned through drug smuggling to fuel terrorism in the state as part of the “nefarious designs” of a neighbouring country.

“Over 90 per cent of drug consignments seized by the police recently were smuggled from across the border,” the DGP said at an event.

He said smuggling narcotics from across the border was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the enemy to destabilise the region.

The DGP’s statement is significant as social organisations spearheading the war on drug addiction have been alleging international mafia’s involvement in drug trade through the LoC. A small portion of it was consumed in the state while remaining was smuggled out to neighbouring states to ensure “maximum earning from this business”.

Admitting that the menace was spreading rapidly, the DGP said the police had launched a comprehensive campaign to snap supply lines. “The campaign launched by the police has yielded encouraging results as alert cops have thwarted a number of attempts to smuggle drugs,” he said.

“Unlike other northern states, situation in J&K is worse because the money earned through smuggling is being diverted to foment trouble and fuel terrorism here,” said Zorawar Singh Jamwal, chairman of Team Jammu.

He reiterated his demand for devising a joint strategy with other northern states to counter inter-state drug mafia since J&K alone was not competent to deal with narco-terrorism.

It is alleged that cross-LoC trade had become a key source of terror-funding and spread of narco-terrorism.

Two years ago, the police had seized 66.5 kg of narcotics in north Kashmir from a truck arriving from PoK as part of the cross-LoC trade.

The crackdown 

• 340 accused arrested and narcotics worth crores seized this year

• 12 drug smugglers charged under stringent Public Safety Act 

• 8 drug shops have lost licence for selling banned drugs