3 Lashkar-e-Toiba associates arrested, money counting machine, ATM cards, other material recovered too, SIT headed by SSP constituted to investigate case further
Tasaduq Hussain
Handwara : Jammu and Kashmir police Thursday claimed to have busted a narco-militant module of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and recovered Rs 1.34 Crore cash and Heroine worth Rs 100 Crore from the possession of three LeT associates in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
J&K police has constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by SSP to reach out to the bottom of the case and find out for whom the money and drugs were meant to be supplied. Police said more arrests are likely to be made in the case soon.
Addressing press conference at Handwara, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Handwara, Dr GV Sundeep that a narco-militant module was busted and a huge recovery of 21 KG of heroin (Market value 100 Crore) and Rs 1.24 crore cash (Indian currency) were covered from here LeT associates.
“Specific inputs about the module were developed and was the module was under our radar. Our special team successfully arrested the three Lashkar associates who were key members of this module,” the SSP said, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “All the three Lashkar associates were in touch with Pakistan and their main aim was to strengthen the Lashkar roots in Kashmir besides supplying drugs across Kashmir.”
The SSP said that after the recovery of huge quantity of Heroine and other drugs, its is clear that militants are promoting drug trade in Kashmir besides violence.
The SSP identified the arrested persons as Iftikhar Indrabi, a resident of Rajwar, Handwara, a notorious drug peddler and is already involved in many relevant cases, Abdul Moomin Peer of Waskura, Handwara, and Islam ul Haq peer of Waskura, Handwara. The SSP said that many other people involved in the racket are absconding and will be arrested soon as they stand identified.
SSP said Pakistan based outfits cultivate the narcotics there and send it though illegal route into the Valley. “These consignments are received by handlers including the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and they sell it in other parts of the country and distribute the money to promote militant activities,” he said as per KNO correspondent.
He said that investigation so far have revealed that these drugs were on way to Punjab. “Further probe is on to identify other links,” the SSP said. The Police officer said that all the arrested persons were recently set free on bail after they were arrested under Public Safety Act for their involvement in drug trade.
Terming Iftikhar’s arrest as a big achievement, the SSP said that he is the big kingpin of the drug chain in Handwara. “We are hopeful the drug trade will come to an end with Iftikhar’s arrest,” he said—(KNO)
