Srinagar, Aug 25: Security forces have launched a large-scale search operation after nearly half a dozen drones from Pakistan were spotted hovering over forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu division, officials said on Monday.
The drone movement was detected over Balakote, Langote, and GursaiNallah in the Mendhar sector around 9:15 pm on Sunday. Officials said the UAVs, believed to have been deployed for surveillance, were flying at a high altitude and returned to the Pakistani side within five minutes.
Soon after the sighting, security personnel were put on high alert and multiple areas were cordoned off. With the first light of the day on Monday, joint teams of the Army and police launched extensive searches to ensure that no weapons, explosives or narcotics were dropped by the drones during their brief incursion.
Army officials said that the possibility of Pakistan attempting to push in arms consignments or drug packets using UAVs could not be ruled out, given the trend observed along the LoC and International Border in recent years.
“The search is a precautionary measure to rule out any air-dropping of weapons or narcotics,” an official said.
The Army said that drone intrusions from Pakistan have emerged as one of the biggest security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last few years, several attempts to smuggle arms and narcotics using UAVs have been foiled by security agencies in border districts.
“In February last year, police announced a reward of Rs 3 lakh for credible information leading to the recovery of any material dropped by drones, underlining the seriousness of the threat,” he said.
Officials said the use of drones by Pakistan is aimed at bypassing traditional security grids along the LoC. Unlike conventional infiltration attempts by terrorists, UAVs allow cross-border handlers to deliver weapons and contraband deep inside Indian territory within minutes, making detection difficult.
Search operations in Mendhar sector were continuing till late Monday evening. So far, no suspicious consignment has been recovered, but forces remain on heightened alert to counter the growing drone menace along the border.