The Jammu and Kashmir’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) Saturday claimed to have arrested the kingpin of a narco-terror module from Mumbai airport — a development that investigators say marks a major breakthrough “in the fight against the cross-border narco-terror network”.
According to the police, Mohammad Arshad alias Asif, from Poonch’s Degwar Terwan village, operated from Saudi Arabia and had been evading capture since 2023.
Officials said a case was registered in May 2023 following credible information about a narco-terror module operating in the Pir Panjal region. During a joint Police-Army search operation on the intervening night of May 30-31, 2023, an exchange of fire broke out between terrorists and the search team.
Four terrorists were apprehended and a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and narcotics was recovered — including 29 kg of heroin, one IED, six hand grenades, one AK-56 rifle with 70 rounds, and four pistols.
A total of eight accused were allegedly found involved in the case, of whom two were absconding. One of them, Laquit Ahmed, who had fled to Dubai soon after the incident, was arrested by SIA Jammu from Ahmedabad airport in March this year.
The other absconder, Mohammad Arshad alias Asif, was described as the main handler and key link between Pakistan-based handlers and operatives in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said he facilitated the travel of co-accused Laquit Ahmed to Dubai and also organised a secret meeting in the Surankote area to revive terrorism and narco-terror activities in the Pir Panjal region under his guidance.
SIA Jammu had issued a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against Arshad in 2023, followed by a non-bailable warrant from a competent court. The accused has been taken into custody on a three-day transit remand from Mumbai. His arrest, officials said, marks a significant success in SIA’s sustained efforts to dismantle networks involved in narco-terrorism and cross-border subversive activities.
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Meanwhile, SIA Kashmir said it has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Special Judge (Designated under NIA Act), Srinagar, against seven accused associated with a narco-terror module operated by Pakistan-based handler Mushtaq Ahmad Khan alias Khalid Bhai of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM). The accused include Anas Aijaz, Bilal Shabir Dildhar and Zahid Ahmad Sheikh (all from Tanghdar), Tanzeer Ahmad Najar of Sudhpora (Karnah), Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Trumnard Batpora in Kupwara, and Srinagar residents Basit Ashraf Malik and Arsalan Mushtaq Bangri. Bilal Shabir Awan Diladar of Tanghdar remains absconding, officials said.
The chargesheet was filed under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, and NDPS Act. The case, registered on January 6 at Police Station Parimpora, followed the recovery of over 9 kg of heroin from a Tata Sumo during naka checking.
