Srinagar, May 26: Police on Monday arrested a drug peddler and recovered narcotic substances from his possession in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara border district.

“Continuing its firm action against drug trafficking and its harmful impact on society, the Kupwara Police today apprehended a drug peddler during a ‘Naka’ (checkpoint) operation, dealing a significant blow to the drug menace in the region,” said police in a statement.

“A police party from Police Post Bazar, under the supervision of senior officers, had established a checkpoint at Geerhatchi as part of routine surveillance and anti-drug operations. During the naka checking, a suspicious individual approaching from Zangli towards Kupwara attempted to evade the checkpoint. However, the alert naka party acted swiftly and apprehended the suspect before he could flee. Upon initial questioning, the individual identified himself as Faisal Ahmad Sheikh, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Kupwara. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a heroin-like substance from his possession,” the statement mentioned.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was actively involved in the supply and distribution of narcotics, particularly targeting the youth in Kupwara town and the Hyhama belt, thereby contributing to the rise of drug abuse in the region.

“Accordingly, a case under FIR No. 149/2025 U/S 8/21 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kupwara, and a detailed investigation has been initiated to uncover the broader network involved,” the police said.

“The arrest of the said individual is seen as a major respite for the local population, especially the parents and families concerned about the growing drug abuse among the youth. Kupwara Police remains committed to its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking,” the officials said.

It must be mentioned that J&K Police and the security forces have launched an aggressive campaign against drug smugglers and drug peddlers, as the roots of drug smuggling have been traced to across the border in Pakistan.

Security forces and intelligence agencies believe that money generated by hawala rackets and drug smuggling is finally used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Belagavi, May 24: A prominent Hindu seer has been arrested on charges of raping a 17-year-old girl in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, police said on Saturday.

The police have filed a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case against the accused.

A case in this regard was registered at the Bagalkot Women’s Police Station and subsequently transferred to the Mudalagi police station.

The accused is the head pontiff of a prominent mutt in a village in the Rayabagh taluk of Belagavi district.

According to police, the seer allegedly raped the girl repeatedly and threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident.

The accused seer had taken the girl to Raichur on May 13 and stayed there for two days.

Later, he took her to Bagalkot on May 15, staying there for another two days.

The accused seer took the girl with him, claiming to drop her back at her residence, and took advantage of the situation to commit the crime.

The seer left the victim at the Mahalingapura bus stop in Bagalkot district on May 17. Later, the girl revealed her ordeal to her parents, and a complaint was lodged against the seer at the Bagalkot Women’s Police Station.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the girl’s parents, who were devotees of the mutt and revered the accused seer, used to leave their daughter at the mutt often for weeks. The seer allegedly took advantage of this.

Police said there are allegations against the mutt and the seer of carrying out illegal activities.

It also came to light during the investigation that in 2021, the accused seer was beaten by villagers.

Local people have appealed to the police to initiate strict legal action against the accused seer.

The police have recorded the statements of the villagers and the victim.

The accused seer has been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Salem, May 24: A 26-year-old man accused of the brutal murder of a 70-year-old woman in Omalur, Salem, was shot in the leg by police early Saturday after he attacked two officers with a machete while trying to escape from his hideout near Sankari Fort.

The accused, Naresh Kumar of Kattikaranoor village in Omalur block, is a habitual offender with over 20 robbery cases registered against him across various police stations in the district.

The incident traces back to May 20, when the victim, Sarasu alias Saraswathi, a resident of Chinnerikadu in Omalur, was murdered while grazing her cattle. Her body was discovered by locals along a roadside path, bearing injuries to her ear and nose.

Initial investigation suggested that she had been attacked for her gold jewellery, with at least one sovereign of gold reported stolen. A murder and robbery case was registered by the Deevattipatti police. In response, special teams were formed to track down the suspect.

Based on intelligence inputs and surveillance, police identified Naresh Kumar as the prime suspect and located his hideout at the foothills of Sankari Fort.

During the early hours of Saturday, a special police team closed in on his location. However, as officers attempted to apprehend him, Naresh Kumar brandished a machete and violently attacked Sub-Inspector Vijayaraghavan and Constable Selvakumar, injuring both.

In an act of self-defence and to prevent his escape, one of the officers fired a service pistol, hitting the accused in the leg. Naresh Kumar collapsed on the spot and was immediately taken into custody.

He, along with the injured policemen, was admitted to the Government Hospital in Sankari for treatment.

According to police sources, Naresh Kumar has a criminal history of targeting elderly women in rural areas, primarily for jewellery snatching. Previous incidents have been reported from Sankari and Magudanchavadi.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of senior citizens in the region and the increasing audacity of repeat offenders. Police have intensified surveillance and patrolling in vulnerable rural zones to prevent further attacks.