On May 28, Srinagar, in a significant blow to cross-border narco-terror networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has apprehended a key fugitive who had managed to evade arrest for two years. The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the intricate nexus between narcotics smuggling and terrorism in the region.
According to an official statement issued to JKNS, the SIA successfully arrested Abdul Rashid Mir, a resident of Amargarh, Sopore, who had been declared a proclaimed offender and was wanted in connection with a high-profile narco-terror case. Mir’s arrest comes after an extensive manhunt and sustained surveillance by SIA teams, who had been tracking his movements since he went underground in 2023.
Investigations have revealed that Abdul Rashid Mir was a crucial member of a cross-border narco-terror module with operational links to Pakistan-based terror outfits, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The module was involved in smuggling narcotics and small arms across the Line of Control (LoC) into Sopore town. Once inside the valley, these illicit consignments were distributed among local youth, both to fuel drug addiction and to generate funds for terrorist activities.
The SIA’s probe, registered under FIR 19/2022, has so far led to the arrest of eight members of this sophisticated narco-terror network. Each arrest has provided valuable leads, helping authorities unravel the wider web of operatives and their modus operandi. The investigation has underscored how proceeds from drug trafficking are being systematically diverted to finance terror operations in the Union Territory, posing a dual threat to both security and public health.
Abdul Rashid Mir’s capture is being hailed as a major setback for cross-border handlers who have been pushing drugs into the valley as part of a larger strategy to destabilize the region. The SIA, in its statement, emphasized that the arrest not only disrupts the supply chain of narcotics but also strikes at the financial backbone of terror outfits relying on drug money to sustain their operations.
Officials further highlighted the grave impact of narco-terrorism on Kashmiri youth, who are being targeted with drugs to weaken the social fabric and create a pool of vulnerable recruits for terror organizations. The SIA reiterated its commitment to intensifying its crackdown on such networks, vowing to bring all those involved—both within and outside the country—to justice.
This latest development is a testament to the SIA’s resolve and operational capabilities in combating the twin menaces of narcotics and terrorism. The agency has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, assuring that the fight against narco-terrorism will continue with renewed vigor.
