Indian police arrest 9 people during massive crackdown in Jammu slums
Jammu: In yet another heavy-handed operation, Indian police conducted a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Maratha Mohalla area of Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, rounding up nine locals.
According to official claims, police teams searched more than 200 jhuggies (slum dwellings) in the locality. The operation was supervised by SP South Zone, Jammu, with the participation of multiple police units.
While the police described the drive as part of efforts to curb drug peddling and anti-social elements, local observers see it as another example of the BJP administration’s selective and aggressive approach towards poorer localities, which are often home to Muslim and minority communities in the Jammu region.
Critics argue that such frequent cordon and search operations in residential and slum areas not only create an atmosphere of fear and harassment but also serve as a tool to intimidate and control the local population under the pretext of “maintaining law and order.” Residents complain that these raids cause immense inconvenience, damage property, and stigmatize entire localities without producing substantial long-term results against the actual drug mafia.
This latest operation in Trikuta Nagar fits into a broader pattern where Indian authorities frequently target underprivileged areas while the bigger players in the narcotics trade allegedly continue to operate with impunity.
The nine rounded-up individuals are currently under questioning, police said.
