Jammu, Sep 7: A drugs case accused has managed to escape from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) headquarters here, and police formed a team to nab the fugitive, officials said on Monday.

Officials said the accused, Aqib Bashir of Kakapora town in Pulwama district, escaped from NCB custody on Sunday night.

“He (Bashir) was arrested with 522g heroin in Samba. He is linked to a narco module,” an official said, adding that the NCB Jammu Zonal Unit has intensified its crackdown on heroin trafficking into Jammu & Kashmir, with recent operations indicating two distinct supply routes — heroin entering directly from Pakistan through the Uri sector and heroin being routed indirectly through Punjab into J&K.

In the latest operation on last Thursday, NCB Jammu intercepted a passenger bus near New Bus Stand, Samba and recovered 522 grams of heroin from Bashir.

“Investigation swiftly traced the backward linkage to Punjab. Acting on the lead, NCB mounted a separate operation at Ludhiana, resulting in a further seizure of 197 grams of heroin. The linked Samba–Ludhiana operation has thus resulted in the recovery of 719 grams of heroin, while further investigation into the network is continuing,” the official said.

Officials said this seizure was the fourth heroin interception by NCB in the Jammu Division within about a month, forming part of a sustained intelligence-led offensive against the supply and distribution of heroin in the region.

“The recent operations include seizures of 438 grams and 603 grams of heroin in two operations conducted inside drug-affected bastis in Jammu/Samba, taking enforcement action directly into vulnerable pockets being used for drug trafficking,” an official said.

In another major operation, NCB has earlier seized 5.160 kg of heroin at Jammu. Investigation in that case indicated that the consignment had originated from Pakistan and entered J&K through the Uri sector.

The trail was pursued beyond the point of seizure up to Leh, where the alleged supplier was apprehended. The latest Samba case has now exposed the other supply channel, with the backward linkage leading to Ludhiana.

The operations indicate that heroin is being pushed into the region through multiple routes — directly across the Pakistan border as well as indirectly through the Punjab–J&K corridor.

The NCB’s strategy is therefore focused not merely on seizures at the point of interception, but on following every consignment both backwards to its source and forwards to its intended recipients, with the objective of dismantling the entire trafficking chain.

Further investigation into the suppliers, receivers, financial trail, and other members of these networks is underway.

Bengaluru, Sep 7: Seven people were killed in two separate road accidents in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka, including four members of a family who were returning to Bengaluru after visiting the Tirupati temple on Monday.

In the first incident, four pilgrims from Bengaluru were killed after their car reportedly lost control and overturned near Dodda Kari village in KGF taluk of Kolar district on the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway.

The deceased have been identified as Sharadamma, 70, Deekshita, 25, Devendra Kumar, 41, and Jishnu, 13. They were residents of Vidyaranyapura in Bengaluru.

The family members had travelled to Tirupati for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara and were returning to Bengaluru when the accident occurred. The Toyota car reportedly lost control and hit the median before overturning, resulting in the deaths of four occupants on the spot.

Three others travelling in the vehicle — Vikas, Neethu and Advika — sustained injuries and were shifted to the Bangarpet government hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered at the Bethamangala Police Station, and further investigation is underway.

In a separate incident in neighbouring Chikkaballapur district, three women were killed after an Omni car carrying agricultural labourers collided with a mini goods vehicle near Kothanur Gate in Shidlaghatta taluk.

The accident occurred when 10 labourers from Mallikarjunapura village were being taken in an Omni car by a man identified as Ramachandrappa to Hujuguru village for flower harvesting.

Three women from Mallikarjunapura were killed on the spot in the collision. Several others sustained injuries and were shifted to the Shidlaghatta Taluk Hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered at the Shidlaghatta Rural Police Station in connection with the accident.

The two separate accidents have claimed seven lives and left several others injured in the two districts.

New Delhi, Sep 7: The Delhi Police have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against building owner Hariram Bansal following the fatal collapse of the five-storey building in Satya Niketan, as investigations into the incident and responsibility for the tragedy continue.

Police registered an FIR against Bansal and others in connection with the building collapse on Sunday. According to police, the structure was being used as a paying guest (PG) accommodation, and renovation work was allegedly underway in the basement when the building suddenly collapsed.

The five-storey building, known as ‘Hostel Daze’, was operating as a boys’ PG, and several students were staying at the premises when the incident took place. An adjacent building also collapsed, according to eyewitnesses, adding to concerns over the safety and structural condition of buildings in the area.

At least six people have lost their lives in the incident, while five others have been rescued, and the search for those still trapped in the debris is underway at the building collapse site.

A large number of students are feared to be among those trapped in the rubble, as several students from nearby Delhi University colleges were reportedly residing in PG accommodations in the area.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revisited the collapse site on Monday morning to take stock of the safety measures and review the ongoing rescue and related operations following the tragedy.

The Chief Minister said that an FIR had been registered against the building owner and made it clear that strict action would be taken against Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials if they were found responsible for negligence or lapses in the matter.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), directives have also been issued for the immediate sealing of illegal five-storey buildings across Delhi as part of measures to prevent similar incidents and ensure compliance with safety norms.

“Intensive inspections of nearby PGs and buildings; sealing to follow if violations are found. The Chief Minister made it clear that there would be no compromise on the safety of Delhi’s residents and that no one would be spared in cases of negligence,” the CMO said.

The authorities have stepped up scrutiny of buildings and PG accommodations in the vicinity following the collapse, with inspections aimed at identifying possible violations and taking action wherever required.

Meanwhile, a petition concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse has also been filed before the Delhi High Court, seeking judicial intervention in connection with the incident and the safety concerns arising from it.

The Delhi High Court has assured that the petition will be heard on Monday itself.