SRINAGAR: Police in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir have attached two residential properties valued at more than ₹1 crore, asserting that these assets were acquired through proceeds from illegal drug trafficking. The action is part of an intensified campaign against drug peddlers and the dismantling of their financial networks within the region.
The Chenab Times has learned that the first property, a residential house estimated to be worth ₹50 lakh, belongs to Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir of Kujjar Frisal in Yaripora. This attachment is linked to FIR No. 10/2021, registered at the Yaripora police station. Officials stated that the property was identified as having been purchased using income generated from the illicit trade of narcotics.
In a parallel action, police attached a single-storey residential house valued at ₹52 lakh belonging to Feroze Ahmad Khan of Munnad, Yaripora. This attachment is connected to FIR No. 72/2023, registered at the Behibagh police station. Authorities allege that this property was also acquired through funds derived from drug-related activities.
These seizures were executed under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The process involved obtaining prior approval from the competent authority designated under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA). The operations were conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate and a police team, with all requisite legal formalities reportedly adhered to.
Kulgam police have emphasized that these actions are integral to their ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the district. The campaign aims not only to apprehend individuals involved in the narcotics trade but also to seize assets allegedly accumulated through this illegal enterprise. Authorities have reiterated their appeal to the public to come forward and share any information pertaining to drug trafficking and other narcotics-related activities, assuring confidentiality for informants.
The district police have been actively pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against drug peddlers, aiming to eradicate the menace of drug abuse that significantly impacts the youth and the community. The attachment of properties signifies a move to financially cripple those involved in the drug trade, thereby disrupting their operations and deterring future involvement. This strategy is seen as a crucial component in the broader fight against organized crime and the restoration of social well-being.
The NDPS Act and SAFEMA provide legal frameworks for the forfeiture of assets that are disproportionate to the known sources of income of individuals suspected of involvement in illicit drug trade or other economic offenses. Such measures are intended to act as a deterrent and to ensure that criminal enterprises do not benefit from their unlawful activities. The Kulgam district administration has indicated that further such actions will follow if evidence of illicit wealth accumulation through drug trafficking emerges.
The Chenab Times News Desk