JAMMU – In a sweeping offensive against the region’s burgeoning drug trade, the Jammu & Kashmir Police have intensified their crackdown on a sophisticated network of female traffickers. Moving beyond traditional arrests, authorities are now deploying “bulldozer justice” to demolish illegal properties acquired through narcotics proceeds, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to those acting as shields for major drug kingpins.
The Gendered Tactical Shift
For years, drug syndicates have exploited the narrow lanes of Rajiv Nagar and Qasim Nagar, turning them into strongholds by recruiting women to manage the “last-mile” distribution. This strategy was calculated: traffickers banked on the social hesitation of security forces to search women and the general lack of suspicion they aroused compared to their male counterparts.
Investigative leads have now formally linked these local distributors to Punjab-based drug lords. Police reports indicate that high-level traffickers from Punjab frequently visit these hubs to hand off bulk shipments of heroin and cannabis, which are then broken down into “chitta” (heroin) packets for street-level sale.
Financial Decimation: Properties Razed
The most significant escalation in the police strategy occurred on April 23, 2026, when heavy machinery was moved into Qasim Nagar. Authorities demolished the homes and storefronts of three key players:
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Reena Devi: Currently incarcerated following a major bust in late 2025.
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Bhalo Devi: Reena’s sister and a suspected coordinator.
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Monica: A central figure in the distribution web.
“The goal is to cripple the entire ecosystem,” stated a senior official. “Arrests are temporary, but the destruction of assets built on the poison of drugs sends a permanent message to the syndicate.”
Timeline of Major Arrests
The crackdown has seen a steady drumbeat of operations over the past year:
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October 19, 2025: A massive breakthrough led to the arrest of Reena Devi, Sheetal, Payal, and Kajal, with the recovery of 186 grams of heroin.
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January 31, 2026: Sarla Devi was intercepted at the Sarore bus stand with 13.20 grams of heroin.
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Historical Context: The roots of this network trace back to 2019, with the arrest of Shakeela Devi, caught with two kilograms of ganja.
The Hunt for Fugitives
Despite the recent successes, the mission remains incomplete. SDPO (Narwal) Sachit Sharma confirmed that while the net is tightening, two high-profile links—Monica and Bhalo—remain at large.
“We have no concrete leads on their whereabouts as of today, but the raids are relentless,” Sharma said. “By targeting their shelters and their financial foundations, we are making it impossible for them to remain hidden for long.”
With over eight high-level female traffickers identified and the “Punjab Link” under the microscope, the Jammu & Kashmir Police are determined to ensure that the streets of Rajiv Nagar are no longer a sanctuary for the narcotics trade.
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