Atul Sharma Early Times Report
Jammu, June 22: The arrest of one more former Sarpanch and ex-Block Development Council (BDC) member from Nowshera area of Rajouri district has exposed the evil designs of Pakistan-based terror mentors to involve Panchayat members in the narco-terrorism to easily smuggle drugs from one place to another. As reported by this newspaper, police have arrested a former Block Development Council (BDC) member and ex-Sarpanch with a significant quantity of suspected heroin in Nowshera on Saturday. The arrested ex-Panchayat member has been identified as Vikas Kumar Sharma, son of Darshan Kumar Sharma, a resident of Thill Hakima, Rajal B, Tehsil Nowshera. He is a former BDC member and ex-Sarpanch. This is not an isolated case, earlier a Sarpanch of Lari Boniyar Mohammad Amin Banda during checking at Bela Boniyar in Baramulla district was arrested with Brown Sugar-like substance some times back. Another Sarpanch was also arrested along with four drug peddlers in Pattan area of Baramullah. The arrested Sarpanch was identified as Farooq Ahmad Malik (Sarpanch Singhpora) of Singhpora Pattan. Earlier administration slapped Public Safety Act (PSA) on Sarpanch in north Kashmir's Kupwara district for his involvement in drug peddling. A warrant under PSA was issued against three persons including the Sarpanch by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir after dossiers were submitted by the police agains The arrest of one more former Sarpanch and ex-Block Development Council (BDC) member from Nowshera area of Rajouri district has exposed the evil designs of Pakistan-based terror mentors to involve Panchayat members in the narco-terrorism. Police have arrested a former Block Development Council (BDC) member and ex-Sarpanch with a significant quantity of suspected heroin in Nowshera on Saturday. This is not an isolated case, earlier a Sarpanch of Lari Boniyar Mohammad Amin Banda during checking at Bela Boniyar in Baramulla district was arrested with Brown Sugar-like substance some time back. Another Sarpanch was also arrested along with four drug peddlers in Pattan area of Baramulla. The arrested Sarpanch was identified as Farooq Ahmad Malik (Sarpanch Singhpora) of Singhpora Pattan. the accused. Three persons namely Sarpanch Darpora Lolab, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Bilal Ahmed Ganie, and Tariq Ahmed Bhat of Lalpora were booked under PSA in December 2021. Sarpanch Manzoor Ahmed Lone was a professional drug peddler because he was earlier arrested three times in cases related to the smuggling of drugs. On August 26, 2021, a Sarpanch from a remote Doongi block near the Line of Control (LoC) in district Rajouri was arrested along with a consignment of heroin by police during Naka in the Sunderbani area. The Sarpanch was on way to take this consignment to Jammu in his car. During the frisking of said vehicle, a consignment of heroin was recovered, which was seized. The arrested person was identified as Choudhary Liyaquat Alia, a resident of Challas Panchayat in Doongi Block of district Rajouri. Later, it was discovered that the accused is the Sarpanch of his village, falling in the Doongi block. Earlier on June 17, 2021, a Sarpanch was arrested by Punjab police with the help of Budgam police for his alleged involvement in a case related to drugs. Sarpanch Mohammad Qasim Rather from central Kashmir's Budgam district was earlier involved in a drug case and was later released on bail. After directions of a court in Punjab, a fresh case was lodged against the Sarpanch and he was rearrested by Punjab Police in FIR number 11/21 under section 229 A IPC registered Police Station Mukandpur Punjab. |