Jammu, October 8, 2025 – In a dramatic escalation during a standard naka checking operation, three suspected drug traffickers were critically injured following a high-speed chase and armed confrontation with police in the Lakhanpur area of Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir. The incident, which unfolded near the Keerian-Gandyal outpost under Lakhanpur police station, has sparked a comprehensive investigation into a suspected narcotics smuggling ring operating across state borders.
According to senior police officials, the confrontation began around midday on Wednesday when officers manning a routine checkpoint signaled a motorcycle approaching from Punjab toward Jammu and Kashmir to halt for inspection. The three occupants—believed to be young men in their mid-20s—refused to comply and instead allegedly opened fire on the patrol team, triggering a brief but fierce exchange of gunfire. “The suspects resorted to indiscriminate firing to evade the check, putting our personnel at immediate risk,” a police spokesperson stated, emphasizing the department’s zero-tolerance stance on drug-related violence.
In the ensuing pursuit, the motorcycle veered off course and collided with a roadside electricity pole near the Keerian-Ghariyal bridge, leaving all three riders with severe injuries. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as locals scattered amid the sounds of gunfire and screeching tires. No police officers were reported injured in the skirmish, though the area was swiftly cordoned off to secure the site.
The suspects were rushed to the Government Medical College (GMC) Kathua for emergency treatment, where medical staff described the condition of one individual as “critical” due to head and internal injuries sustained in the crash. Preliminary investigations suggest the trio is affiliated with an interstate drug trafficking network, potentially smuggling narcotics from Punjab into Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities recovered a pistol from the scene, along with traces of suspected contraband, though a full search of the motorcycle is ongoing.
The Lakhanpur checkpoint, a key entry point into Jammu and Kashmir, has been a hotspot for anti-smuggling drives in recent months, with multiple seizures of synthetic drugs and opioids reported in the area. This incident marks the latest in a series of encounters highlighting the growing nexus between drug cartels and armed resistance in the region. Police have intensified patrols and set up additional nakas along major routes, while forensic teams comb the crash site for further evidence.
A formal case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with arms charges, has been registered at Lakhanpur police station. Investigations are also exploring links to broader networks, including possible involvement in prior smuggling busts in the district. As the suspects recover, authorities anticipate disclosures that could dismantle a larger operation.
Updates on the suspects’ conditions and investigation breakthroughs are expected shortly. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have reiterated their commitment to public safety amid ongoing efforts to curb narcotics infiltration.
