Jammu: Security forces detected multiple suspected Pakistani drones crossing into Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, prompting retaliatory fire by the Army and extensive ground search operations in several border districts, officials said.
According to reports, drone-like objects with blinking lights were spotted hovering over forward areas of Rajouri, Poonch and Samba districts, all of which reportedly originated from the Pakistan side and returned after remaining over Indian territory for a few minutes.
In Rajouri district, Army troops guarding the Nowshera sector opened fire with medium and light machine guns after detecting suspected drone movement over Gania-Kalsian village around 6.35 pm.
Around the same time, another drone was sighted over Khabbar village in Teryath, having entered from the direction of Dharmsal village in Kalakote and moving towards Bharakh, officials said.
A similar drone-like object was observed hovering for several minutes over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district around 7.15 pm, while another suspected drone was seen moving from Tain towards Topa in the Mankote sector of Poonch district at about 6.25 pm.
Following the sightings, security forces launched search operations on the ground across the affected forward areas to rule out the possibility of arms or narcotics drops.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, suspicious satellite phone communication was intercepted near the Kanachak area of Jammu, barely a kilometre from the International Border.
Reports said the intercepted conversation was allegedly made using a Thuraya satellite phone, raising concerns of terrorist movement or infiltration attempts.
Soon after the interception, a joint search operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indian Army.
The entire Kanachak area was cordoned off, and intensive searches were underway at the time of filing this report.
Kanachak, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, has historically been used as an infiltration route by terrorists from across the border.
Officials said surveillance and vigil have been further strengthened in the area and adjoining hilly belts of Jammu region.
Security agencies have also intensified search-and-cordon operations across the region, particularly in the higher reaches, to track down nearly three dozen terrorists believed to be active in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
These operations, officials said, are part of heightened security measures ahead of the Republic Day celebrations.
The fresh incidents come close on the heels of a significant recovery on Friday night, when security forces seized an arms consignment allegedly dropped by a Pakistani drone in Paloora village of Ghagwal near the IB in Samba district. The recovered items included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition and a grenade.
Earlier this week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, directing officials to continue operations against terror infrastructure and terror financing networks in mission mode. Shah reiterated that the Centre remains committed to eradicating terrorism from the Union Territory and ensuring lasting peace.
Security forces, officials said, remain on high alert across all sensitive sectors along the LoC and IB.
