Srinagar, May 3: In a landmark move to curb drug abuse and other related crimes in Kupwara, police have used GPS trackers on two criminals who were recently released after a two-year legal battle.
The decision to use GPS tracking devices represents a significant shift in law enforcement strategy, particularly in the fight against drug-related crime.
Two people, Abid Ali Bhat and Abdul Majeed Bhat, were arrested two years ago in connection with the possession and distribution of brown sugar, a potent form of heroin.
After a lengthy legal process, they were released back into the community.
However, as a condition of their release, police in Kupwara, in a first-of-its-kind initiative in Kashmir, installed GPS trackers to monitor their movements.
With this, Kupwara district became the first district in the Kashmir zone to use GPS anklets on bailed out drug offenders.
Police said that the ASJ Court Kupwara while granting bail in FIR 283/2022 ordered use of GPS anklets on accused Abdul Majid Bhat and Aabid Ali Bhat to better monitor the movement of the released accused.
In response, the police said that a team led by ASP GM Bhat, DySP Ameen Bhat and SHO Kupwara Inspector Ishaq used the GPS anklets to closely monitor the accused.
The use of GPS trackers is a proactive police measure to deter those involved in drug-related crimes.
Kupwara has witnessed a rise in drug abuse cases in recent years, posing a major challenge to the local administration.
The police's innovative approach is seen as a step towards solving this pressing problem.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, Shobhit Saxena highlighted the importance of such measures in combating drug abuse.
“The use of GPS trackers is just a part of a broader strategy to tackle the drug menace and other related crimes in Kupwara,” he said.
Although this is the first case of GPS trackers being used on criminals in Kashmir, it could serve as a precedent for future drug-related crime cases.
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