JAMMU: The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a suspected Pakistani drone flying close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district late Tuesday night. This marks the second incident involving suspected drones from Pakistan along the international border in less than three weeks.
Incident Details
- Date and Time: The incident occurred on Tuesday night at around 11:30 PM.
- Location: Khanetar garrison near the LoC in Poonch district.
- Action Taken: BSF troops fired over three dozen rounds after detecting the drone’s presence. The border guards cordoned off the area immediately and launched a search operation to sanitize it, suspecting that the drone might have dropped arms and ammunition.
Previous Incidents
- May 10: BSF troops opened fire at a Pakistani drone near the international border in the Samba district, forcing it to retreat to the Pakistani side.
- February 29: Samba SSP Vinay Kumar and BSF IG (Jammu frontier) D K Boora awarded Bhagwan Dass, a civilian, with a cheque for Rs 3 lakh and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 for alerting security forces about a drone flying over his fields in January.
Security Measures
- Immediate Response: Following the detection, an alert was sounded, and the area was put under strict cordon.
- Search Operation: A massive search operation was launched on Wednesday morning to sanitize the area and ensure no arms or ammunition were dropped by the drone.
Reward System
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for anyone providing information about drones flown from across the border with the intent of dropping weapons and narcotics. This incentive aims to encourage civilians to report suspicious drone activities promptly.
Background Context
Drones from Pakistan are increasingly being used for smuggling arms, ammunition, and narcotics across the border into India. The BSF has been on high alert to detect and neutralize these threats to ensure border security.
Conclusion
The BSF’s swift action in shooting down the suspected drone highlights the ongoing vigilance and proactive measures taken by Indian security forces to counter cross-border threats. The incident underscores the importance of community involvement in reporting suspicious activities to bolster national security efforts.
