J&K: Suspected Pakistan drones spotted along LoC, IB near Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts; search operations launched

NEW DELHI: Security forces detected movement of suspected drones in multiple forward areas along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts on Sunday evening, officials said.

All the flying objects were seen coming from the Pakistan side and returned after hovering over Indian territory for a few minutes, they added. Following the sightings, security forces launched ground search operations in the affected areas.


In the Nowshera sector along the LoC in Rajouri district, Army troops opened fire using medium and light machine guns after observing drone movement over Gania-Kalsian village around 6.35 pm, officials said.

Another drone was spotted over Khabbar village in the Teryath area of Rajouri district at around the same time. The flying object, with a blinking light, was seen coming from the direction of Dharmsal village in Kalakote and moving towards Bharakh, they said.

In Samba district, a drone-like object with a blinking light was seen hovering for several minutes over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector around 7.15 pm, officials said.

A similar object was also noticed moving from the direction of Tain towards Topa in the Mankote sector along the LoC in Poonch district at around 6.25 pm, they added.

The latest sightings come days after security forces recovered an arms consignment allegedly dropped by a Pakistan-origin drone in Paloora village of Ghagwal near the International Border in Samba district on Friday night. The recovery included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds and a grenade, officials said.

With inputs from news agency PTI.

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