Jammu, Aug 06: Police have arrested three alleged drug peddlers and unearthed a narcotics supply chain, recovering heroin, electronic weighing machines, cash and mobile phones in Jammu city, officials said on Thursday.

The breakthrough came as part of the police’s ongoing drive against drug trafficking under the drug-free campaign when a Mahindra Thar was intercepted during routine checking at a traffic naka in Channi Himmat, they said.

During the search of the vehicle, police recovered two syringes, including one filled with a suspected narcotic substance and another empty syringe.

A personal search of the driver, Mohd Tabish Saleem, a resident of Mendhar in Poonch district, led to the recovery of a heroin-like substance, officials said.

They said that the heroin-like substance was also recovered from the co-passenger, Mohd Irfan of Raika, Bahu Fort.

Following the seizure, police registered a case in Channi Himmat police station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and launched an investigation.

During the investigation, police developed the backward linkages of the case and arrested another accused, Aijaz Choudhary alias Ajju, a resident of Channi Rama on Thursday, they said.

A search of the accused resulted in the recovery of two electronic weighing machines, six mobile phones, Rs 28,000 in cash and one syringe, all of which were seized as evidence, officials said.

Police said efforts are underway to establish the forward and backward linkages of the narcotics network and identify other persons involved in the illegal drug trade.

Jammu, Aug 06: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday visited flood-affected areas of Rajouri district to assess the damage caused by last month’s rain fury, and review relief and rehabilitation measures.

The chief minister’s visit came a day after he toured flash flood and landslide-hit areas of neighbouring Poonch district, where 16 people were killed and six others remain missing following the devastating rains.

“Continuing my visit to flood-affected areas, I will visit Rajouri today to assess the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides, interact with affected families, and review ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts,” Abdullah posted on X before the visit. He said he would also hold a meeting with the district administration to ensure timely assistance to the affected people.

Accompanied by local legislators, the chief minister visited several flood-ravaged localities, including the worst-hit Bela colony and bus stand area, where he interacted with residents and took stock of the damage, officials said.

Locals urged the chief minister to sanction the construction of a strong concrete embankment to protect residential areas from future floods in Bela colony area and raised various demands related to restoration and rehabilitation.

Congress MLA from Rajouri, Iftkhar Ahmed, who accompanied Abdullah during the visit, highlighted the need for immediate relief, restoration and long-term rehabilitation of affected families.

Ahmed also urged the chief minister to release funds for the long-pending Mini Secretariat project in Rajouri, saying the existing district administrative complex was unsafe and that the new facility was essential for efficient public service delivery. Senior civil and police officers accompanied the chief minister during the visit, the officials said.

On Wednesday, Abdullah travelled to Poonch via the Mughal Road from Srinagar to review the ground situation in flood- and landslide-hit areas in Poonch.

Last month’s heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides across parts of the Jammu region, claiming 26 lives and leaving five people missing in Rajouri district, while Poonch recorded 16 deaths.

Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Director of the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through an office memorandum issued on August 3, assigned the additional responsibility following the voluntary retirement of Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany from the post of Director, CSIR-NBRI.

According to the order, the Vice President of CSIR has approved that Dr Ahmed will hold the additional charge until a regular Director is appointed or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will exercise all powers of the post without any additional remuneration.

Dr Ahmed will continue to serve as Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu while overseeing the functioning of CSIR-NBRI, one of the country’s premier research institutes dedicated to plant sciences, biodiversity conservation, taxonomy and botanical research.

The arrangement has been made to ensure administrative continuity and the smooth implementation of scientific programmes at the Lucknow-based institute.

A distinguished scientist with more than 28 years of experience in drug discovery and natural product research, Dr Ahmed has made significant contributions in the fields of inflammatory and metabolic disorders.

Under his leadership, CSIR-IIIM has played a key role in several flagship national programmes, including the CSIR Phytopharmaceutical Mission, Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission. He has also been closely associated with the Purple Revolution through lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir and has contributed to the establishment of Industrial Biotech Parks at Ghatti in Kathua and Handwara.

Dr Ahmed has published over 150 research papers, guided several doctoral and postgraduate scholars, and holds multiple patents.

He has received several honours for his contributions to science and innovation, including the UT Level Tribal Award in Science and Technology (2022), CSIR Knowledge Partnership Award (2023), Maharaja Hari Singh Award for Excellence (2024), Prominent Alumni Award by the University of Jammu (2025), the Indian Army’s Award of Appreciation for Excellence in Science and Technology (2025), and the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar as a team member of the CSIR Aroma Mission (2025).