5 smugglers arrested in J-K; 35 kg poppy straw seized, 13 bovines rescued

Five suspected narcotics and bovine smugglers have been arrested after a large quantity of poppy straw was seized and 13 domestic animals were rescued in separate operations in Jammu region, police said Tuesday.

Parvez Ahmad and Anwar Hussain were arrested in Nud village of Samba district Tuesday when they were trying to smuggle 13 bovines to Kashmir via the Samba-Mansar road, an official spokesperson said.

They were booked under relevant sections of the law, he said.

The official added that three suspected drug smugglers were arrested on Monday.

Mohammad Khalil, a resident of Punjab, was arrested after 30 kg poppy straw was found in his truck at Flata-Rehambal along the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Udhampur district, he said.

Amit Kumar, a resident of Sial Sallan village, was arrested in Udhampur after five kg poppy straw was found in his possession, the spokesperson said.

Shahnawaz Khan was arrested when eight grams of a banned narcotic was found on him during checking at the Dhani Dhar Bowli morh in Rajouri district, he said.

All three were booked under the NDPS Act and further investigation was on, the official added.