Within days of the conclusion of the much-publicised and high-profile 100-day Nasha Mukti Abhiyan, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has found itself in an embarrassing position after a sub-inspector was caught allegedly consuming heroin in Kathua district.
Amjad Khan, a probationer sub-inspector posted at Hiranagar Police Station in the district, was allegedly caught consuming chitta (heroin). A case was subsequently registered against him under the NDPS Act. However, the sub-inspector was granted bail the following day.
The officer was allegedly seen behaving in a manner that raised suspicions that he had consumed a narcotic substance on the police station premises. Acting swiftly, authorities took him to Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Hiranagar, for a medical examination, where a drug-testing kit was used to determine whether he had consumed any prohibited substance.
The test results reportedly confirmed the officials’ suspicions, indicating the consumption of a narcotic or contraband substance.
Legal proceedings followed almost immediately, with police registering FIR No. 97/2026 at the concerned police station under Sections 8 and 27 of the NDPS Act—the same law that the force has spent the past 100 days invoking against drug peddlers and users across the Union Territory.
The case has now been handed over to PSI Rajat Jasrotia (No. 196315/EXJ) for investigation, with authorities examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged consumption.
The episode comes at an awkward moment for the J&K Police, which had just concluded its 100-day Nasha Mukti Abhiyan—a sweeping anti-narcotics campaign projected as a flagship initiative to combat drug abuse across the Union Territory, including within its own ranks.
The action against one of its own now raises uncomfortable questions about how deeply the problem targeted by the campaign may have penetrated, including within the force tasked with combating it.
Cops Earlier Arrested in Narcotics Cases
The arrest of the sub-inspector is not an isolated incident. Earlier, police personnel had also been arrested or dismissed in connection with narcotics-related cases.
In April this year, Udhampur Police dismissed a constable for his alleged involvement in a narcotics case.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Udhampur, ordered the dismissal of Constable Arjun Sharma (No. 886/U) following a departmental inquiry into FIR No. 170/2025, registered under the NDPS Act at Police Station Rehmbal.
According to reports, the constable was apprehended during a naka-checking operation by a team from Police Post Tikri in Udhampur district. Heroin was recovered from his possession and was subsequently confirmed by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
In a similar case last year, an SPO posted at District Police Lines (DPL), Poonch, was arrested along with an associate by Jammu Police under Operation Sanjeevani. The duo was intercepted near Miran Sahib while travelling on the Ring Road, and heroin was recovered from their vehicle. A case was registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and an investigation was launched.
Earlier, in August 2025, five police personnel were terminated from service for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, underscoring the administration’s stated zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics-related activities within the police ranks.
On November 7, 2024, a constable posted in the Crime Branch was arrested along with his two wives for allegedly operating a narcotics distribution network across Jammu province. Police recovered ganja, charas, cash, mobile phones and packaging material allegedly used for heroin distribution from his residence.
On November 12, 2024, another constable was arrested for allegedly operating a drug racket within the premises of Government Medical College, Jammu. Officials said he was part of a larger syndicate allegedly targeting local youth for profit. He was subsequently placed under suspension.