Police in Awantipora have arrested four individuals for attempting to illegally transport saffron seeds out of Jammu and Kashmir. Acting on specific information, the police, under the leadership of the SHO of Awantipora Police Station, set up a checkpoint at the IC PP Toll Plaza. During the subsequent search, authorities apprehended Ashok Kumar from Sonipat, Haryana; Prem Singh from Delhi; Gulzar Ahmed Khan; and Ahmed Din Choudhary.
The arrested individuals were found traveling in a Swift car (JK02DG-5090). Upon inspection, the vehicle was found to be carrying around 150 kilograms of saffron seeds, contained within four bags. The seized goods were delivered to the Department of Agriculture for further action. It is illegal to transport saffron seeds outside the boundaries of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Department of Agriculture will now proceed in accordance with the Saffron Act.