Drone-dropped arms cache seized near Bikaner; BSF, police recover 5 China-made pistols, 325 cartridges

JAISALMER: BSF and Rajasthan Police Thursday seized an arms cache allegedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan in the Khajuwala area of Bikaner district, recovering five China-made pistols, 325 cartridges and a drone weighing about 70 kg. The joint operation took place at Chak 24 KND in Gram Panchayat 14 BD under Khajuwala police station, where the consignment was found in eight packets during a BSF search in a farmer's field.

BSF spokesperson Deputy Commandant Mahesh Chaudhary said, "Large quantities of weapons and cartridges were sent into Indian territory via drone from Pakistan." He also said security agencies seized "5 Made-in-China pistols and around 325 cartridges" from the spot. Chaudhary added that a drone was also recovered and that its weight "around 70 kg" indicated the weapons were sent from Pakistan.


Officials said this was the first time a large drone-dropped weapons consignment from Pakistan was recovered in the Khajuwala sector. Police and BSF launched search operations and blockades across the area after the recovery.

A joint team including Khajuwala CO Amarjeet Chawla, station in-charge (trainee) RPS Rohit Chaudhary and BSF G Branch officers reached the spot. Newly posted Inspector General of Bikaner Police Range Om Prakash said weapons and cartridges dropped by drone from across the border were found, a case was registered and the investigation is ongoing.

Security agencies said they are probing who the consignment was meant for and which network may be behind it, noting that Rajasthan agencies had warned of the risk of drone-based weapons delivery after a drone-linked drug smuggling case on the Pakistan border five months ago.