Jammu and Kashmir Police have enforced stricter measures on the national highway for drivers and truckers to prevent drugs from entering the Union Territory. Besides breath analyser tests, drivers will now be required to undergo urine examinations at entry points before entering the region.
Police have intensified screening of drivers for drug use, increasing roadside checks which were earlier limited to alcohol testing. The first-of-its-kind urine examination of drivers and truckers was carried out at the Mir Bazar stretch, where over 100 drivers were randomly tested for narcotics using rapid Urine Drug Screening (UDS) kits.
Superintendent of Police (SP), National Highway, Mumtaz Bhatti, said the move is aimed at catching drivers operating under the influence of drugs. “Earlier, it was mostly alcohol testing. Now we are checking for narcotic and psychotropic substances as well,” Bhatti said.
Drivers will now be randomly checked and tested for psychotropic substances like heroin, brown sugar, and medicinal opioids. The drive aims to catch those drivers operating under the influence of any substance that could jeopardise the lives of people on the critical highway, which has seen many accidents in the first four months of 2026.
These checks are being carried out as part of the 100-day anti-drug campaign, “Nasha Mukt Abhiyan”, launched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha earlier this month.
“In case any driver is found under the influence of drugs, his licence and permit to ply on the road will be recommended for cancellation,” Bhatti said.
Also read: Iltija Mufti booked for sharing Geelani’s video online
Follow us
