Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered over 1,500 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, arrested nearly 2,000 drug peddlers and frozen 567 bank accounts linked to drug trafficking this year, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar said on Thursday.

Addressing his first press conference after taking charge as IGP Kashmir, Kumar said police had attached properties worth crores belonging to drug peddlers and recovered cash worth around Rs 1.10 crore.

"567 bank accounts involving around Rs 1.31 crore have been frozen as part of action against the financial networks behind drug trafficking," said IG Kashmir while interacting with media persons.

Kumar urged young people to join the fight against drug abuse and cybercrime. He assured the public that the identities of informers would remain strictly confidential.

"Anyone having information should come forward. If someone approaches a police station or a rehabilitation centre for help, we will facilitate them and their identity will be kept strictly confidential," he said.

The IGP also urged people struggling with drug addiction to seek help instead of suffering in silence. He said the youth are the future of society.

On cybercrime, Kumar warned youngsters against joining organised online fraud networks, particularly those involving mule bank accounts.

He said police had received complaints of online fraud involving more than Rs 54 crore in recent months. Authorities have recovered around 13 to 14 per cent of the amount, while more than Rs 7 crore has been returned to victims.

"Cheating your own people is wrong. I appeal to the youth not to get involved in such activities or become part of these networks," Kumar said.