10 drug peddlers held with 940 kgs of poppy straw in JK

At least 10 alleged drug peddlers, including three residents of Punjab, were arrested on Wednesday, leading to the recovery of 940 kgs of poppy straw, 35 live cartridges and over Rs 1.79 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

A narcotic racket was busted with the arrest of three persons and recovery of 200 kgs of Poppy straw in Kathua district, a police spokesman said.

However, the main accused Harpal Singh alias Balochi is on the run and efforts are on to nab him, the spokesman said, adding the search of his house led to the recovery of over Rs 1.79 lakh and 35 rounds of ammunition.

Another drug peddler was arrested along with around 390 kgs of poppy straw during vehicle checking at Chenani along Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur district, the spokesman said.

He said three truckers from Punjab were arrested while coming from Kashmir. A total of 345 kg of poppy straw was recovered from their vehicles on checking them in Banihal area of Ramban district.

Yet another drug peddler was arrested from Anayatpur-Thalka in Rajouri district after being found in possession 300 grams of charas, while two more peddlers were arrested after recovery of 249 sedative drug tablets from their possession during checking at Malipath in Kishtwar district, the spokesman said.

All the arrested persons were booked under NDPS Act and further investigation is on, the spokesman said.