Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were put on high alert on Sunday evening after multiple suspected Pakistani drones were detected along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Officials said at least five drone movements were observed in forward areas, prompting extensive ground search operations to rule
According to officials, all the flying objects were seen entering Indian airspace from across the border, hovering briefly over sensitive locations, and then retreating back towards Pakistan.
Security agencies immediately activated standard operating procedures, including alerting troops in nearby posts and launching coordinated searches in the suspected drop zones.
In Rajouri district, Army troops guarding the Nowshera sector reportedly opened fire with medium and light machine guns after spotting a drone over the Gania-Kalsian village area around 6.35 pm.
Around the same time, another drone-like object was seen near Khabbar village in the Teryath area. Officials said the object, which had a blinking light, appeared to originate from Dharmsal village in Kalakote and moved further towards Bharakh before disappearing.
Similar sightings were reported from Samba district, where a drone-like object was observed hovering for a few minutes over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector at around 7.15 pm.
In Poonch district, security personnel noticed another suspected drone moving from Tain towards Topa in the Mankote sector along the LoC at approximately 6.25 pm.
Following the sightings, joint search operations involving the Army, police and other security agencies were launched across the affected areas to check for any suspicious material or weapons that may have been dropped.
Officials said the searches were continuing late into the night as a precautionary measure.
The latest incidents come just days after security forces recovered a cache of arms in Samba district’s Paloora village near the IB.
