Police apprehended four individuals in Awantipora for allegedly attempting to transport saffron seeds (corms) outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Acting on intelligence, a special checkpoint was established at the IC PP Toll Plaza under the supervision of the SHO of Awantipora Police Station. During the inspection, the police apprehended Ashok Kumar (Sonipat, Haryana), Prem Singh (Goyal Vihar, Delhi), Gulzar Ahmed Khan (Seer Mattan), and Ahmed Din Choudhary (Gujar Nagar, Jammu).
The arrested individuals were traveling in a Swift car (registration number JK02DG-5090). Upon being signaled to stop at the checkpoint, the vehicle was searched, and approximately 150 kilograms of saffron seeds were recovered from four bags. The seized goods have been handed over to the Department of Agriculture for further action. The transportation of saffron seeds outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is legally prohibited. The Department of Agriculture will take further action under the Saffron Act in this case.
