JAMMU, September 7 :
Security agencies have intensified operations across Jammu following the alleged escape of a suspected narcotics trafficker from the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), triggering heightened surveillance, checking and search operations at several strategic locations.
The accused, identified as Aqib Bashir, a resident of Kakapora in Pulwama district, was arrested by the NCB on September 3 after authorities allegedly recovered 522 grams of heroin from his possession during the interception of a passenger bus in Samba district.
Officials said Bashir reportedly fled from NCB custody in the Narwal area of Jammu during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The circumstances leading to the escape are currently being examined by the concerned authorities.
Intensive Checking Ordered Across Jammu
Following the incident, an alert was circulated among security and law-enforcement agencies, leading to an extensive search operation to track down the accused.
Police and other security personnel have stepped up vehicle inspections and frisking at important checkpoints, while teams have been deployed to search suspected hideouts and possible escape routes.
Authorities are also examining the movements of the accused after he allegedly managed to leave custody. Investigators are working to determine whether he received any assistance and the precise route he may have taken after escaping.
NCB Probe Reveals Multiple Heroin Trafficking Corridors
The arrest of Bashir was reportedly linked to a broader NCB crackdown on narcotics trafficking in the Jammu region. The month-long operation is said to have uncovered two routes allegedly being used to transport heroin into Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials said one suspected corridor involved the movement of narcotics from Pakistan through the Uri sector, while another route allegedly operated through Punjab, providing an indirect channel for the supply of heroin into the region.
During four separate interceptions carried out over the past month, along with a related recovery in Punjab, the NCB reportedly seized a total of 6.920 kilograms of heroin and arrested six individuals.
Search Operation Continues
The alleged escape has prompted authorities to maintain heightened vigilance across Jammu and adjoining areas, particularly at major roads, entry and exit points and other locations considered strategically important.
Officials have so far not revealed the exact circumstances under which Bashir escaped or confirmed whether anyone has been detained in connection with the incident.
The NCB, police and other agencies continue to coordinate their efforts to locate the accused, while further investigation into the escape and the wider narcotics network remains underway. (KNC)