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.

Mumbai, Sep 7: The Mumbai Crime Branch Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) on Monday has arrested a 45-year-old security guard from Jammu and Kashmir in connection with an investigation into an alleged threat issued from a Pakistan-based phone number.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Sharif, is originally from Jammu and Kashmir but has been living in Mumbai for the past few years. He was working as a security guard in the city.

The case came to light after a Mumbai resident allegedly received threatening WhatsApp calls and voice messages from a number linked to Pakistan. During the investigation, the Crime Branch found that Sharif was in contact with the Pakistan-based number from which the alleged threats were issued.

According to officials, police examined Sharif’s mobile phone and found evidence of conversations and other contact with the individual using the Pakistan-based number. Following this, Sharif was detained and questioned by the investigators before being formally arrested.

The investigation is being conducted against the backdrop of a demolition in Mumbai’s Bandra area, following which a threat was allegedly received from a Pakistan-based number. The Crime Branch is now probing the circumstances surrounding the threat and the nature of Sharif’s alleged connection with the person in Pakistan.

Investigators are also examining whether Sharif had any direct or indirect role in the alleged threat calls and voice messages. The police are trying to establish the identity and motive of the person who allegedly issued the threats and determine whether Sharif’s communication with the individual was connected to the incident.

The investigation has taken on a wider dimension after police learnt that Sharif’s father lives in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Investigators are now examining whether this connection has any relevance to the case and are verifying the circumstances surrounding Sharif’s contacts in Pakistan.

At present, the Mumbai Crime Branch is focusing on the communication trail between Sharif and the Pakistan-based number. Investigators are expected to examine the contents of their conversations, the frequency of communication, and other digital evidence to establish the exact nature of the alleged link.

Police are also likely to scrutinise the circumstances in which contact was established between Sharif and the person based in Pakistan and whether the communication had any connection with the alleged threats received by the Mumbai resident.

The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation and questioning Sharif to gather further information. Officials are examining the available digital evidence and other details to determine whether the accused had any role in the alleged threat and whether other individuals may also be involved.

Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and the Crime Branch establishes the identities, motives and links of those allegedly connected with the threat.