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Jammu on alert as police hunt for escaped drug case accused
Jammu: A major security alert was issued in this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday after a Pulwama resident accused in a heroin trafficking case allegedly escaped from Narcotics Control Bureau custody. The incident triggered an intensive manhunt, with police and security agencies carrying out searches across Jammu and Samba districts to trace the accused and investigate possible lapses.
The accused, identified as Aqib Bashir from Kakapora area of Pulwama, was arrested by the NCB on September 3 after officials intercepted a passenger bus near New Bus Stand in Samba and recovered 522 grams of heroin from his possession.
The escape raised serious questions over custody management and prompted security agencies to review the circumstances that allowed the accused to flee while in official custody.
According to officials, Aqib Bashir allegedly escaped from NCB custody in the Narwal area of Jammu during the night between Sunday and Monday.
Soon after the incident came to light, police units and other security agencies were placed on alert in Jammu and Samba. Multiple teams have been deployed to conduct searches at possible hideouts and movement points linked to the accused.
Authorities are also investigating whether the escape was carried out alone or if the accused received assistance from any individual or criminal network.
Following the incident, security agencies increased surveillance across Jammu. Extensive checking of vehicles, frisking of passengers and monitoring of important routes have been intensified as part of efforts to prevent the accused from leaving the region.
Police teams are focusing on transport routes, sensitive locations and areas where the accused may have attempted to seek shelter. The investigation is also looking into possible security gaps within the custody arrangement and whether any negligence contributed to the escape.
The arrest of Aqib Bashir was part of the NCB’s wider crackdown against narcotics trafficking networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The agency has been investigating routes used for smuggling heroin into the Union Territory and has identified two major supply corridors. One route is believed to pass through Punjab, while another operates through the Uri sector.
Security agencies have been increasingly focusing on drug networks due to concerns over the use of narcotics trafficking channels for funding illegal activities and supporting organised criminal networks.
During the ongoing investigation, the NCB has recovered around 6.920 kilograms of heroin in several cases linked to Jammu division and Punjab.
Officials said four cases were registered in Jammu division and one case in Punjab as part of the crackdown. Six people have so far been arrested in connection with the suspected heroin trafficking network.
Investigators are now working to identify more members involved in the supply chain, including those involved in transportation, distribution and possible financial links.
The custody escape has added a new challenge for security agencies already engaged in tackling narcotics trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials are examining all possible angles, including the accused’s movements after escape, possible contacts and whether the incident has any connection with the wider drug network under investigation. The priority for agencies remains locating and arresting Aqib Bashir while strengthening measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police and security agencies are expected to continue search operations until the accused is traced. Additional security measures may also be introduced at custody locations and during the movement of accused persons in sensitive cases.
The incident highlights the growing focus on narcotics-related crimes in Jammu and Kashmir and the challenges faced by enforcement agencies while dismantling organised drug trafficking networks.
