Vinay Kumar
NEW DELHI: Security forces on Tuesday launched a search operation after a Pakistani drone was spotted hovering over forward villages along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.The development comes amid heightened security concerns along the border following reports of Pakistan strengthening its military deployment opposite India.The drone intruded into Indian territory around 2 pm and was seen hovering over the forward villages of Shukhmal, Devindera and Tapan in the Bobiyan area of Kathua’s Hiranagar sector.Alert Border Security Force (BSF) personnel immediately initiated countermeasures to bring down the drone.However, the flying object, which was at a high altitude, managed to return across the border before it could be intercepted.Following the incident, the BSF and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched an extensive search operation to ensure that the drone had not dropped any weapons, explosives or other material.The operation was continuing at the time of the last reports, according to news agency PTI.
Massive anti-terror search underway in Poonch
Separately, security forces also launched a large-scale cordon-and-search operation across dozens of remote villages in Poonch district following intelligence inputs about the suspected movement of two groups of terrorists.Personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, assisted by the Rashtriya Rifles, carried out searches in villages including Dhara Sangla, Gujjar Naar and Kherowali Dhok in Surankote tehsil.Officials said no contact had yet been established with the suspected terrorists, while systematic searches were continuing in the densely forested region.Security personnel also searched Kalaban and adjoining areas in Mendhar tehsil, but no arrests were made.
Unexploded mortar shell recovered near border
In another security-related development, an old rusted mortar shell was recovered from the courtyard of a house in Kattal-Brahmana village in Kathua’s Hiranagar sector on Tuesday morning.Labourers carrying out excavation work at the residence noticed the suspicious object and informed the authorities. A police team, along with the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), secured the area and safely removed the unexploded shell for disposal.
Comes amid heightened tensions along India-Pakistan border
The recent drone intrusion occurs during a time of heightened tension along the border. Earlier today, India said it would do “whatever is necessary” to safeguard its national interests following reports that Pakistan had deployed around 250 Chinese-origin SH-15 self-propelled artillery guns along sectors facing India.Responding to the reports during the ministry of external affairs’ weekly briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “During Operation Sindoor, we saw how a befitting reply was given (to Pakistan). From our side, our stance is that cross-border terrorism must stop, and we will do whatever is necessary in our national interest, for which we always remain vigilantly deployed.”The Chinese-made SH-15 155mm/52-calibre artillery systems have been deployed primarily in Pakistan’s Gujranwala, Sialkot and Jalalpur Jattan sectors opposite India as part of Islamabad’s artillery modernisation programme.
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Similar drone sightings reported recently
The latest incident follows another suspected Pakistani drone sighting reported in Rajouri district last month. Blinking lights were seen over forward villages in the Sunderbani sector before the suspected unmanned aerial vehicle returned towards Pakistan.Security forces had subsequently conducted a search operation to check for any airdropped payload but found nothing suspicious.Earlier in June, Army personnel had also opened fire after spotting a Pakistani drone over forward posts in the Balakote sector of Poonch, forcing it to retreat towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
