Srinagar, Aug 17: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir on Monday said it apprehended an absconding suspect wanted in a probe into narcotics smuggling allegedly used to finance terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Accused arrested in Jammu after nearly four years on run
The agency identified the arrested man as Manoj Kumar Bhat, also known as Pintu, son of P K Bhat of Rehari Colony, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu. A SIA spokesman said Bhat was taken into custody during a special operation carried out in Jammu. Bhat was named in FIR No. 13/2022, registered by SIA Kashmir on June 3, 2022, and had been evading arrest for almost four years, the spokesman added.
The SIA said its investigation has uncovered what it described as a wider narco‑terror conspiracy involving operatives based in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir (PoK) and their alleged links with the Hizbul Mujahideen.
“Narcotics were allegedly trafficked into Jammu and Kashmir, distributed through a local network and the proceeds from their sale subsequently channelled towards activities sustaining the terrorist ecosystem,” the spokesman said.
Alleged network, named handlers and local facilitators
The agency named two Pakistan/PoK‑based handlers in its statement: Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, alias Kandoo, son of Abdul Khaliq Kandoo of Kralteng, Sopore; and Manzoor Ahmad Khan, son of late Abdul Majeed Khan of Braman Panzala, Baramulla. The SIA said these individuals allegedly facilitated the trafficking of narcotics from PoK which were later collected and distributed by a network operating inside J&K.
According to the SIA, the case was initially registered after the recovery of one kilogram of heroin from two persons — Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi and Waseem Ahmad Khan — at Nowpora in Sopore. The spokesman said subsequent investigation and sustained efforts using technical surveillance, human intelligence and coordinated measures led to Bhat’s arrest.
Investigation methods and next steps
The SIA statement said the detention followed “sustained efforts involving technical surveillance, human intelligence and coordinated investigative measures.” The agency did not disclose further operational details, citing the sensitivity of the probe.
Following the arrest, the accused will be produced before the appropriate court and subjected to further interrogation as part of continuing investigations, the SIA indicated. The statement did not specify the sections of law under which Bhat would be prosecuted, or whether any additional arrests were made in the operation.
- Accused: Manoj Kumar Bhat (alias Pintu)
- FIR: No. 13/2022, registered June 3, 2022 by SIA Kashmir
- Initial seizure: 1 kg heroin recovered from Nowpora, Sopore
- Alleged external handlers: Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo and Manzoor Ahmad Khan
Officials said the probe aims to map the supply chains, identify financiers and unravel the full extent of links between the narcotics network and terror groups operating in the region.
Local impact and broader security context
Law‑enforcement agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have in recent years emphasised the threat posed by narco‑terror links, arguing that drug trafficking and money laundering enable militant operations by providing financial resources. The SIA’s action follows similar investigations that sought to establish the flow of contraband from across the Line of Control into the Union Territory.
Residents and civil‑society actors have repeatedly called for robust policing and better coordination between intelligence and investigative agencies to stem cross‑border trafficking. The SIA said its ongoing inquiry seeks to disrupt the financing mechanisms that sustain violent activity.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 June 2022 | FIR No. 13/2022 registered by SIA Kashmir |
| Date of initial seizure | 1 kg heroin recovered from Nowpora, Sopore |
| 17 Aug 2026 | Arrest of Manoj Kumar Bhat in Jammu |
The SIA statement named specific individuals and localities and described the arrest as part of a probe into “narco‑terror financing.” No independent confirmation of the alleged cross‑border elements was provided in the statement. The matter remains under investigation and further details are likely to emerge as agencies process evidence and record statements.
Legal proceedings and the formal charges to be framed against the arrested person will determine the course of the case. Meanwhile, the SIA said it will continue coordinated operations to dismantle networks it alleges are responsible for trafficking contraband into the Union Territory and diverting proceeds to violent groups.
