Baramulla, July 31:Police seized a substantial amount of Rs. 16.33 lakh from a drug smuggler in the Kamalkote area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.
A police official said that the seizure was carried out by Baramulla Police, led by Shokat Ali-JKPS, SDPO Uri, and assisted by Inspector Mohd Shafi, SHO Police Station Uri.
“The cash, amounting to Rs. 16.33 lacs, belonged to drug smuggler Maqsood Ahmad Bhatti, son of Bagh Ali Bhatti, a resident of Madiyan Kamalkote,” he said.
The police official revealed that the operation was executed after obtaining legal sanction from the competent authorities.
“The seized cash was linked to case FIR No. 22/2023 under sections 8/21, 27 of the NDPS Act of Police Station Uri.”
According to the police official, investigations confirmed that the cash in question was raised and used for illicit trafficking by the drug smuggler.
During the investigation, Baramulla Police had earlier recovered Rs. 14.76 lacs from the drug smuggler at the time of registration, and following orders from the competent authorities, an additional amount of Rs. 1.56 lacs, which was lying in his bank accounts, was frozen.
The move by Baramulla Police to seize and freeze the movable property involved in illicit trafficking was met with praise from the local community.
The general public in the area commended the initiative, expressing their willingness to support the police in eradicating the drug menace from society.
“The positive response underscores the strong Police-Public relationship in the district.”
Earlier on July 26, Baramulla police attached properties worth Rs 41.85 lakhs belonging to drug smugglers Mohammad Naseer Bhatti, son of Nasar Din Bhatti, hailing from Madiyan Kamalkote area of Uri. The seized properties included a newly constructed house valued at approximately Rs 11.46 lakhs and a Tata Sumo vehicle with registration number JK05D-3680, valued at around Rs 5.00 lakhs.
On June 29, Baramulla police attached an under construction house on land measuring 10 marlas at Main Mohalla Pattan belonging to drug smuggler namely Barakat Ali Main son of Mohammad Maqbool Main, a resident of Mian Mohalla Pattan, after obtaining legal sanction from competent authorities.
