Shyam Sood

Rajouri, March 10

The Army nabbed a smuggler from the fence gate on the Line of Control (LoC) at Basooni village in the Balakote sector in Poonch district on Saturday. The Army recovered Rs 10-lakh fake Indian currency and 2 kg of heroin-like substance from him.

The youth, identified as Mohd Zaffar, resident of Dabbi village, was directed to stop by troops of the Gorkha unit manning the gate no. 488.

“Instead of stopping, the youth tried to escape, but was apprehended,” said sources, adding that a bag was recovered from the spot. It had 2 kg of a heroin-like substance and Rs 10 lakh in fake Indian currency (in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000).

Poonch Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh K Angral said, “A detailed investigation has been started and soon more arrests can’t be ruled out in the case.”

Dabbi village is the last Indian village along the LoC in the Balakote sector. Similar smuggling attempts have been reported from the area in the past also.

Military intelligence personnel questioned Zaffar who was later handed over to the police.

The police have booked Zaffar under Sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act and Section 489-C (possession of counterfeit currency notes) of the Ranbir Penal Code.