Srinagar, Jun 6: A few days ago, police affixed a GPS-enabled anklet on two bailed-out terror associates for better surveillance to track their movements in Sopore.
Earlier, drug peddling accused were fitted with GPS trackers to keep an eye on their movement.
These steps have been taken after obtaining formal orders from the Court, a police spokesman said.
Aamar Mehraj Kaboo of Mahrajpora Sopore and Waseem Manzoor Gazi of Watergam Rafiabad were arrested in a case under FIR number 185/2020 under section 7/25, 27 of IA Act, 16, 18, 20, 23, 38 ULAP Act of Police Station Sopore and FIR number 161/2019 under section 7/25 IA Act 18, 39 ULAP Act of Police Station Dangiwacha respectively and have been enlarged bail by the Court.
These GPS anklets will be used to monitor the movement of the said terror associates and ensure that they don’t violate the bail conditions, police said.
Last month, in compliance with an order received from Kulgam court, police affixed a GPS tracking device on a bailed-out person in a UA(P) case.
The accused was arrested in case FIR No 37/2019 under sections 13, 16, 19, 20, 38, 39 UA(P) Act, 7/25 Arms Act and has been bailed out recently. The GPS anklet will be used to monitor the movement of the said accused person and ensure that he doesn’t violate the bail conditions.
The GPS tracker anklet is a wearable device affixed around the anklet of the person, aiming to monitor and track the movement of the accused on bail.
It is worth mentioning that, Kupwara police in the Kashmir region have marked its first to use the technology on the accused out on bail. Earlier in 2023, the device was used to track the terror accused in the UAPA act after a special NIA court in Jammu passed an order directing the police to affix a GPS tracker anklet.
“It helps to see whether the person continues to indulge in the wrongdoings or whether he has mended his ways,” sources said, adding that the device has been so helpful in curbing the crime be it terror-related or for that matter drug smuggling, etc.
Meanwhile, the war on drugs has been intensified across Jammu and Kashmir with law enforcing agencies recovering 9 kg of heroin, 15.6 kg brown sugar, and 120.4 kg of charas besides other narcotic substances.
Official figures reveal 9 kg of heroin, 15.6 kg brown sugar, 120.4 kg charas, 567 kg poppy straw, 107 kg bhang, 33,967 caps/tablets, 70 injections, and 1229 syrup bottles were seized across J&K till April this year.
Union Ministry of Social Justice data reveals that there are nearly 10 lakh drug addicts in Jammu and Kashmir. The data was compiled after the Ministry of Social Justice conducted a National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi.
Data reveals that 1.44 lakh drug abusers are consuming cannabis. Around 5.34 lakh men and 8,000 women are opioid addicts. Likewise, 1.6 lakh men and 8,000 women are taking sedatives.
According to the figures compiled by the drug de-addiction center, Government Medical College, Srinagar, a record 340 percent jump has been witnessed in drug abuse in Kashmir. In 2019, over 3850 IV Heroin abuse cases were recorded, while the number rose to 13200 in 2021. Till October 2022, a total of 596 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in Jammu.
Likewise, 785 cases have been registered in Kashmir. Around 815 drug peddlers have been arrested in Jammu, while 1270 have been held in Kashmir. About 291 kg of Cannabis, 200 kg of Heroin/Brown Sugar, and 167115 Tablets/Capsules/Syrup have been seized till October this year. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report has revealed that 1681 cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2021. (With KNO inputs)
