Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Aug 23: In a significant crackdown, a joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Jammu has led to the arrest of a narco smuggler and the seizure of heroin valued at Rs 50 lakh. The operation, conducted on August 22 in the Miran Sahib area, was based on precise intelligence provided by BSF Jammu. Authorities have initiated a detailed investigation into the incident, indicating a deeper probe into the networks behind the drug trade.

This development comes amid a broader and intensified security campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, where forces are not only targeting active terrorists but also systematically dismantling the ecosystem that supports militancy — including Over Ground Workers (OGWs), sympathisers, and financial enablers. Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha has underscored the need for this comprehensive approach, regularly reviewing the security strategy to steer the Union Territory towards lasting peace.

Terrorism in the region has had far-reaching impacts, particularly on the Kashmiri pandit community, which faced mass displacement following the onset of militancy in 1989. Many pandits were forced to abandon their ancestral homes under threat, seeking refuge in other parts of India. Although the government has introduced several initiatives — including a Prime Minister-led recruitment and rehabilitation package and the construction of secure housing — the return of the community remains uncertain without absolute peace in the Valley.

To protect the interests of displaced pandits, the J&K High Court has declared all property sales by the community after 1990 as distress sales, adding a legal layer of protection against unlawful acquisition.

Security forces and intelligence agencies remain convinced that proceeds from drug smuggling and hawala transactions are crucial sources of funding for terrorism in the region. The recent heroin seizure in Jammu further reinforces this link, shedding light on the sophisticated and intertwined network of narcotics and militant financing that authorities are now actively working to unravel.