Arrest of migrant from Valley in Jammu marks key moment in narco-terror network probe

On June 3, 2022, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir arrested Manoj Kumar Bhat, a 35-year-old man from Rehari Colony in Jammu, for alleged involvement in a cross-border narco-terror financing network. The man, now 35, had been on the run for four years and had managed to evade law enforcement despite rarely carrying a mobile phone.

He was reportedly the son of a retired government employee who had migrated from the Valley to Jammu over 35 years ago when the Kashmiri Pandit community was forced to leave their homes. The arrest was significant as it marked the first time an SIA had successfully apprehended a Kashmiri Pandit for alleged involvement in such activities.

The raid led to the seizure of 15 grams of heroin, several electronic gadgets, and a motorcycle which are currently under forensic examination. According to SIA, the arrest has exposed a wider narco-terror conspiracy backed by the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit based in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The agency claims that the proceeds generated from narcotics trafficking are allegedly being diverted towards sustaining terrorist activities.