Jammu, May 17: In a strong action against the drug network, police and civil administration on Sunday carried out a major crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, demolishing 33 illegally constructed structures allegedly used by drug offenders on encroached government land.

The operation was conducted at Balole Khad in Bari Brahmana, identified by authorities as one of the district’s most notorious drug hotspots. Officials said the structures had been illegally raised on government-owned industrial land worth approximately ₹60 crore and were being misused for storage, concealment, and distribution of narcotics, particularly heroin.
Led by Samba Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anuj Kumar along with civil administration officials, the drive resulted in the retrieval of nearly 50 kanals of encroached land belonging to the State Industrial Development Corporation.
Police said the area had long been under surveillance due to the involvement of several individuals with a history of serious narcotics-related offences. More than 35 FIRs, including multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, are registered against suspects linked to the locality.
Officials identified several accused involved in drug-related cases, including Mohd Baru, who is named in 10 FIRs and is currently absconding with a Public Safety Act (PSA) warrant issued against him in January this year. Others, including Manshu (seven cases), Dahua Bibi (three FIRs), and individuals such as Farman Ali alias Munna, Farooq Din alias Dana, Farooq Ali alias Kana, Haider alias Raju, and Farman Din, are also facing multiple narcotics-related charges.
Authorities said Balole Khad had earlier also witnessed incidents of resistance and alleged attacks on police teams during anti-drug operations, highlighting the sensitivity of the area.
Following the demolition drive, officials confirmed that boundary fencing has been completed and floodlights have been installed to prevent fresh encroachments and illegal activity in the future.
Police said the operation is part of the ongoing “Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan,” aimed at dismantling drug trafficking infrastructure and curbing the narcotics supply chain in the region.
Reiterating their stance, officials stated that Samba Police have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug peddling and such coordinated enforcement actions will continue to eliminate the drug ecosystem and safeguard the youth from substance abuse while ensuring peace and public safety in the region.