Pakistan-sponsored narco-terror module busted in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara; 3 Lashkar operatives held, hawala money, drugs worth over Rs 200 cr seized

The Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered 21 kg heroin and Indian currency, total worth over Rs 200 crore from the Lashkar operatives.

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday (June 11) busted a huge narcotics-terror module sponsored by neighbouring Pakistan and arrested three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist associates in Handwara town of Kupwara district. The police also recovered 21 kg heroin and Rs 1.34 crore Indian currency, total worth over Rs 200 crore, from the possession of Lashkar operatives. 

Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, Superintendent of Police, Handwara told media that the module was in contact with their handlers based out of Pakistan and was involved in drug trade and assisting financially to active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit Lashkar. It was actively working for LeT outfit to strengthen their activities in the valley besides misguiding and motivating the local youth to join terror folds.

The SP said that the drugs were procured from across the Line of Control (LoC) and were to be sold in different states to promote terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

Investigation so far revealed that these drugs were on way to Punjab. Further probe is on to identify other links, the SP added.

According to the J&K Police, busting of latest hawala-based narco terror module is one of the biggest to have been busted. "The three, who were arrested, were peddling drugs to financially help the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. It's a very big hawala racket where the money is transferred without money movement and financed for terrorist activities," the Handwara SP told media.

The police said all three LeT operatives have been identified and are being grilled. The main accused, identified as Iftikhar Indrabi, is a notorious drug smuggler with several FIRs registered against him. The second man is his son-in-law Momin Peer and the third is Iqbal-ul-Islam.

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) of Jammu Kashmir Police has been constituted to investigate the matter so that more links of module can be known. Police have been conducting raids across Kashmir after the interrogation of arrested terrorist associates.

The police added that more arrests will take place in the case.