The operative, identified as Mohammed Usman Jatt, also known as “Chinese,” was arrested last month alongside alleged Lashkar militant Abdullah by Srinagar police before the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency due to what authorities described as its national and international dimensions.

Investigators said Jatt, a resident of Lahore trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba, had infiltrated into Indian territory with instructions to execute attacks and help establish sleeper cells outside Jammu and Kashmir.

During questioning, however, he allegedly said conditions in Kashmir differed significantly from narratives presented during militant training in Pakistan.

According to officials, Jatt said he had struggled with severe hair loss for years, affecting his confidence, and believed advanced hair restoration procedures were available only in Western countries until he learned about such treatment in Srinagar.

Investigators said Jatt was introduced to local contacts, including militants identified as Zargam and Abdullah, while staying in upper areas of Srinagar. Police said information obtained during interrogation helped uncover an alleged network of overground workers operating in Srinagar and northern Kashmir in support of Lashkar activities.

Officials said Jatt told interrogators he met a Srinagar shop owner who had undergone a hair transplant procedure and later persuaded him to arrange similar treatment. He allegedly underwent the procedure at a clinic within the city and occasionally stayed there overnight during recovery.

After the operation, investigators said Jatt traveled with Abdullah by passenger transport to Jammu before boarding a sleeper bus to Punjab en route to Malerkotla, where he reportedly spent time watching Turkish television programs and attempting to learn English.

According to officials, Jatt told interrogators he intended to secure genuine Indian identity documents, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card and eventually a passport, with the aim of leaving India using forged or fraudulently obtained documentation.

Investigators linked his account to another alleged Lashkar operative, Umar, nicknamed “Khargosh,” who authorities say infiltrated India after 2012 and later fled abroad in 2024 using forged travel documents allegedly obtained in Jaipur before eventually reaching a Gulf country through Indonesia.

The case emerged months after Srinagar police dismantled what authorities described as the “Al Falah module” in November 2025, an alleged militant network involving educated professionals accused of supporting extremist activities.

Police alleged one accused in that case, Umer-un Nabi of Al Falah University, drove an explosives-laden vehicle that detonated outside the Red Fort on Nov. 10, killing more than a dozen people, according to investigators.

The administration in Jammu and Kashmir has announced a series of stringent measures targeting drug smuggling networks, including the revocation of official documents and seizure of assets, as part of an intensified anti-narcotics campaign.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said individuals involved in drug trafficking would face cancellation of licences, passports and Aadhaar identification, alongside confiscation of movable and immovable property.

Bank accounts linked to such activities will also be frozen, with financial investigations initiated under existing legal provisions.The announcement was made during the launch of a “drug-free J&K” public campaign at M.A. Stadium in Jammu.

Sinha stated that the administration would pursue a zero-tolerance approach, with enforcement agencies directed to take swift action against offenders and dismantle organised networks.Under a newly introduced Standard Operating Procedure, authorities will issue Look Out Circulars against absconding suspects.

Properties associated with drug traffickers will be attached under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, enabling legal seizure of assets linked to illicit activities.Sinha also referred to cross-border dimensions of drug trafficking, stating that smuggling routes were being used to undermine communities and contribute to substance abuse within the region.

While not naming any country directly, he indicated that external factors were contributing to the spread of narcotics.To strengthen enforcement at the local level, the administration has called for increased coordination with grassroots institutions, including panchayats, mohalla committees, chowkidars, lambardars and ward-level surveillance groups.

These networks are expected to assist in identifying offenders and supporting intelligence gathering.The policy measures coincide with the notification of the Jammu and Kashmir Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2026.

The framework aims to standardise the functioning of rehabilitation facilities and expand access to treatment services for individuals affected by substance abuse.The administration has also outlined a three-month public outreach programme focused on awareness and prevention.

Planned activities include sports tournaments, educational debates, quizzes and community events such as marches and padyatras. Officials said the initiative is intended to increase public participation and embed awareness across both rural and urban areas.

Sinha described substance abuse as one of the most serious challenges facing the region, emphasising that enforcement measures would be complemented by social and rehabilitative efforts.

He noted that since 2021, the administration has expanded outreach programmes, particularly targeting youth and underserved communities.

The campaign calls for participation from educators, social workers, community leaders and young people, with the administration positioning the initiative as a collective effort to address both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem.

Authorities said the combination of legal enforcement, financial tracking and community engagement is intended to create a comprehensive response aimed at reducing drug trafficking and supporting affected individuals across Jammu and Kashmir.