NCB, J&K Police and Punjab Police track fugitive through Jammu and Punjab; accused allegedly changed his appearance, hid in forest before reaching Jalandhar

Jammu, September 10: A three-day, multi-agency manhunt across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab has ended with the re-arrest of Aqib Bashir, the drug-trafficking accused who escaped from Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) custody in Jammu earlier this week.

According to details shared by the NCB, Bashir was traced and apprehended in Jalandhar, Punjab, following sustained intelligence-led efforts involving the NCB, Jammu & Kashmir Police and Punjab Police.

The development comes days after Bashir’s escape from NCB custody in Jammu triggered an extensive search operation and a public appeal for information. The NCB had earlier identified him as a wanted accused in a heroin case and circulated his details after he fled custody.

The Indian Express had reported that Bashir was arrested on September 3 after an NCB team intercepted a Jammu-bound passenger bus at Samba’s New Bus Stand and allegedly recovered 522 grams of heroin from him.

From Jammu to Punjab: The Escape Route

According to the latest operational account, Bashir initially attempted to remain concealed in Jammu before making his way towards Punjab.

After escaping from NCB custody, he reportedly travelled towards Jalandhar through the Pathankot route. During the initial phase of the manhunt, investigators believe he attempted to avoid detection by moving under the cover of darkness.

A particularly significant lead emerged from the Narwal area near Jammu’s Fruit Mandi, where he allegedly took shelter in a forested area.

Investigators say Bashir went to considerable lengths to disguise himself.

He allegedly changed his appearance

To make identification more difficult, Bashir reportedly:

  • Clean-shaved his face
  • Changed his clothes
  • Altered his overall appearance
  • Took shelter in secluded locations
  • Subsequently relied on contacts in Jalandhar for shelter

Despite these efforts, intelligence inputs continued to narrow the search.

Three Agencies, One Coordinated Hunt

The operation brought together teams from the NCB’s Jammu, Amritsar and Chandigarh units, along with personnel from the Punjab Police and Jammu & Kashmir Police.

According to the NCB, continuous intelligence sharing and coordinated field operations helped investigators track Bashir’s movements after he crossed into Punjab.

The fugitive was eventually located in Jalandhar, where the joint team reportedly moved in before he could leave the area.

Officials said Bashir was preparing to move towards Delhi or another state when the agencies apprehended him.

The successful tracking operation highlights the importance of inter-state intelligence sharing in cases involving suspects who attempt to exploit state boundaries to evade law-enforcement agencies.

A Suspect Who Was Already Under Close Watch

Bashir’s arrest had drawn significant attention because investigators considered him an important link in a wider narcotics investigation.

The NCB’s earlier operation had reportedly identified two separate routes through which heroin was being brought into Jammu and Kashmir — one allegedly through Pakistan via the Uri sector, and another through Punjab. A month-long operation in the Jammu division had resulted in multiple interceptions and seizures.

The Indian Express reported that the broader operation involved seizures totalling 6.920 kg of heroin and arrests of six people across four interceptions.

The NCB had also reportedly recovered 197 grams of heroin in Ludhiana during a follow-up operation connected to the investigation.

Bashir’s arrest on September 3 was therefore seen by investigators as potentially significant for tracing the wider network behind the movement of narcotics.

Escape Triggered Major Security Alert

Bashir’s escape from NCB custody in Jammu had prompted security agencies to intensify checking at key entry and exit points.

The accused reportedly escaped from the NCB facility in Narwal during the intervening night of September 6 and 7, following which police and other agencies launched a search across the region.

The episode also triggered an internal examination of the circumstances surrounding the escape.

The Tribune reported that the NCB had initiated an internal inquiry to determine whether anyone inside the agency had facilitated the escape, while officials said disciplinary action could follow if responsibility was established.

Media Alert Also Played a Role

The NCB has specifically acknowledged the role of the media fraternity in disseminating the alert after Bashir escaped.

Photographs and identifying details of the accused were circulated publicly as agencies sought assistance in locating him. The public appeal issued by the NCB on September 8 asked people to immediately share information if Bashir was spotted.

The widespread dissemination of the alert effectively expanded the search beyond conventional checkpoints and surveillance teams.

The Bigger Narco-Trafficking Investigation

The re-arrest comes against the backdrop of an expanding NCB investigation into narcotics trafficking routes feeding Jammu and Kashmir.

Investigators have been examining both the Punjab-Jammu corridor and the route allegedly passing through Uri in north Kashmir, with officials looking into possible backward and forward linkages of the network.

The Indian Express reported that the investigation had already identified the Punjab route as one of the channels being used to push heroin towards Jammu and Kashmir, while another route was allegedly linked to Pakistan through Uri.

Bashir’s interrogation following his re-arrest could therefore become important for investigators seeking to establish the network’s supply chain, handlers, financiers, couriers and interstate connections.

A Major Breakthrough After a Security Breach

The successful recapture represents a significant operational breakthrough for the three agencies after the embarrassing escape from NCB custody.

What began as a custody breach in Jammu quickly developed into a multi-state tracking operation, with investigators following movement patterns, intelligence leads and suspected support networks across Jammu and Punjab.

The NCB said the operation demonstrates the effectiveness of real-time intelligence sharing, inter-agency coordination, sustained field operations and public cooperation.

The immediate focus will now shift to questioning Bashir, establishing how he managed to escape custody, identifying those who allegedly sheltered or assisted him and determining whether his movements after escaping can provide additional leads into the wider narcotics network.

Key Takeaways

  • Aqib Bashir has been recaptured in Jalandhar, Punjab.
  • The operation lasted approximately three days.
  • NCB, J&K Police and Punjab Police coordinated the search.
  • Bashir allegedly travelled towards Punjab via the Pathankot route.
  • He reportedly clean-shaved, changed clothes and altered his appearance to evade identification.
  • He allegedly hid in a forest area near Narwal Fruit Mandi before moving towards Punjab.
  • Investigators say he used contacts in Jalandhar for shelter.
  • He was reportedly preparing to move towards Delhi or another state when apprehended.
  • His original arrest involved the alleged recovery of 522 grams of heroin in Samba.
  • The wider NCB investigation has exposed alleged narcotics routes through Uri and Punjab.

**The recapture now gives investigators an opportunity not only to establish the full circumstances of the escape, but also to extract fresh leads into the wider interstate narcotics network that Bashir is alleged to be connected with.**