The Kashmir Pulse

SHOPIAN — The residents of several areas in South Kashmir have demanded the widening of the Shopian-Aglar route that connects dozens of villages.

The residents of Aglar, Nikloora, Shirmal, Heff, Chillipora, Sugan, Turkwangam, Molu, Dangerpora, Trenz, Pahnoo and several other villages told the news agency KNO that this is one of the most important routes of the district connecting Shopian with Pulwama and Anantnag but it is very congested at many places.

They said that the narrowness of the road at most of the places often leads to traffic jams due to which locals suffer.

Aabid Ahmad, a resident of Heff, said that the government has done a great job by maintaining this vital road but the road is not wide enough to cater for the heavy rush of vehicles. He said that this route is used by people coming from Kulgam and Shopian to reach Industrial Estate SIDCO Lassipora.

“As this road connects hundreds of villages and witnesses a heavy rush of traffic round the clock, the road needs immediate widening for all 22 kilometres from Aglar to Shopian as the narrowness of this road often leads to accidents and traffic jams,” he said.

Basharat Ahmad, a resident of Turkwangam, said this road connects dozens of areas with SIDCO Lassipora near Turkwangam but people often suffer due to the narrowness of the road.

Locals said that they have repeatedly requested authorities to take steps for the widening of the road but no steps have been taken as of now.

They requested higher-ups to look into the matter and take immediate steps for the widening of this road so that the public won't suffer anymore.

This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse

SHOPIAN — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said that it has arrested a man from Sopore during a Naka checking and recovered a heroin-like substance from his possession.

Under the operation "Drug-free Shopian", Shopian Police under the supervision of SSP Shopian Ms Tanushree (IPS) arrested a drug peddler and recovered a heroin-like substance from his possession.

In a statement to Srinagar-based news agency KDC, police said, “During Naka checking at Fruit Mandi Aglar Shopian, halted one vehicle swift car bearing registration No. JK04H-9612 for checking. During the search of the vehicle officers present were able to recover 700 grams of heroin-like substance (worth crores of rupees in international market) from his possession."

He has been identified as Ab Rasheed Lone, son of Gh Hassan Lone, resident of Sarepora Budan of Sopore Baramulla.

A case under FIR No. 23/2024 U/S 8/21 of NDPS Act stands registered in Police Station Shopian and an investigation has been set into motion, police said, adding that the accused has been arrested in the instant case and the vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized.

District Police Shopian is making every effort to hunt down drug peddlers in the district and to put them behind bars, the statement added.

This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse