Jammu: Jammu city witnessed two major law-and-order flashpoints within hours on Tuesday as Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel launched a high-risk operation against wanted gangster Happy Choudhary alias Goguli in Gandhi Nagar, while a police team conducting an anti-drug operation in Nikki Tawi came under attack from locals allegedly attempting to help a drug peddler escape.
The back-to-back incidents triggered panic in parts of Jammu city and underlined the growing challenges faced by police during intensified anti-gangster and anti-narcotics operations.
According to official sources, at around 6 PM, SOG Jammu received specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of persons allegedly harbouring wanted gangster Happy Choudhary alias Goguli in the Green Belt Park area of Gandhi Nagar.
Acting swiftly, SOG teams rushed to the area and launched a surveillance and interception operation near the Green Belt locality.
Officials said that during the operation, the suspects attempted to escape in an Alto vehicle bearing registration number JK02CA-9674 and allegedly rammed the vehicle into another Alto vehicle in which SOG personnel were present.
As the suspects tried to flee from the spot, SOG personnel reportedly fired two to three rounds targeting the tyres of the escaping vehicle in an attempt to stop it.
However, the accused managed to flee from the area despite the chase. No injury or loss of life was reported in the incident.
The dramatic operation created panic in the busy Gandhi Nagar locality as additional police reinforcements were rushed to the area and search operations were intensified to trace the fleeing suspects.
Police sources said investigations are underway to identify all persons involved in harbouring the wanted gangster and assisting in the escape.
In another serious incident, a police team conducting anti-drug operations near Nikki Tawi in Jammu was allegedly attacked by a mob after apprehending a suspected drug peddler with heroin-like substance.
According to officials, the CRT Team Jammu along with teams from Police Station Nowabad and Police Post Canal Road was conducting routine patrolling in the Nikki Tawi area when police noticed a suspicious person attempting to flee after spotting the police party.
The accused was identified as Bashir Ahmad alias Bachu, son of Lal Hussain, resident of Javed Nagar, Nikki Tawi near a primary school.
Police overpowered and apprehended the accused during the operation. During personal search, approximately 12 grams of heroin-like substance, commonly known as “chitta,” was allegedly recovered from his possession and seized on the spot following legal procedure.
In this regard, FIR No. 83/2026 under Sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act was registered at Police Station Nowabad.
Officials said that while the accused was being taken into custody, a group of local residents, including several women, assembled at the spot and allegedly attacked the police party by pelting stones in an attempt to obstruct the operation and facilitate the escape of the accused.
During the incident, ASI Jagjeet Singh of the CRT Team sustained injuries and was shifted to GMC Jammu for treatment.
Police later identified twelve accused persons allegedly involved in attacking police personnel and obstructing government officials from performing lawful duties.
The identified accused include Ima Bibi, Farooq, Shobia, Jatoon Bibi, Imam Hussain, Meeri Bibi, Irshad Mohammad, Zulfa Bibi, Niaz Mohammad, Fana Bibi, Manzoor and Shado Bibi — all residents of Javed Nagar, Nikki Tawi, Mandal, Satwari, Jammu.
In this connection, FIR No. 114/2026 under Sections 132, 191(2), 191(3), 115(2), 125 and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at Police Station Satwari.
The twin incidents come amid intensified operations by Jammu and Kashmir Police against gangsters, narcotics smugglers and organised criminal networks operating across the Jammu region.
Security agencies have recently stepped up action under the NDPS Act and Public Safety Act (PSA), targeting drug peddlers, history-sheeters and gang members through arrests, preventive detentions and attachment of properties allegedly acquired through illegal narcotics trade.
Police officials said operations against organised criminal syndicates and drug networks will continue across Jammu region in the coming days.
