Srinagar, Mar 03 :
Srinagar Police have busted a criminal conspiracy under which contraband was introduced in a vehicle to falsely implicate a man in an NDPS case. SP City South Shabir Khan, at a press conference, disclosed that five accused have been apprehended in relation to the case.
As per the police, according to news agency—Kashmir Bulletin (KB), the case came to light on February 24 when lawyer Yusha Yousuf Mir reported something suspicious to Shaheed Gunj Police Station. He had informed police about a car, with registration number JK01 AX-8467, parked often in front of Oasis School, Karan Nagar. Based on this information, an SPO was deployed to monitor the car. After verification of its presence, a magistrate was summoned and the owner of the vehicle was approached for a search.
In the initial search in the presence of the magistrate, charas-like substance was recovered from the boot space. A case (FIR No. 05/2025 U/S 8/20 NDPS Act) was thus registered. A thorough search resulted in recovery of 452 grams of charas from the boot space and under the rear seat of the vehicle. The owner, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Astan Mohalla, Natipora, was arrested forthwith.
Deeper probing discovered an even deeper conspiracy. It was discovered by police that the illicit goods had been planted by Manzoor’s friends—Mohd Shafi Badyari, Arshid Ahmad Wani, and Toufeeq Ali—who had already possessed the car a few days prior to the crime. In addition to Zahoor Ahmad Mir and Rouf Ahmad Mir, the accused were conspiring against Manzoor for five months to falsely implicate him in an NDPS case regarding a land dispute and demand money from him. The contraband was purchased in advance and kept at a shop in Rambagh prior to being planted in the vehicle.
Four accused persons—Mohd Shafi Badyari, Arshid Ahmad Wani, Toufeeq Ali, and Rouf Ahmad Mir—were arrested on February 26, and more contraband were recovered. Police have charged the accused under Section 29 of the NDPS Act and Sections 228, 229 of BNS. Additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation unfolds.— (KB)