Jammu & Kashmir on high alert after suspected Pakistani drone spotted near LoC in Poonch

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district stepped up surveillance after a drone suspected to have come from Pakistan was spotted near the Line of Control (LoC), officials said on Saturday.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was detected at around 8:05 pm on Friday in the Behrooti village area of Balakote in the Mendhar sector, according to PTI. Officials said the drone moved towards the Mangalnar-Dabrote axis near the border before turning back towards Pakistan.

Army personnel deployed along the LoC immediately increased monitoring of the forward areas.

Search operation launched

Following the suspected aerial intrusion, security forces were put on high alert and a search operation was launched in the area, ANI reported.

Teams are combing the surrounding areas to check whether the drone dropped any weapons, narcotics or other material. The operation is also aimed at ruling out any further intrusion linked to the drone activity.

Searches underway in other districts

The drone sighting comes as security forces are already conducting searches in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir following inputs about suspicious movement.

On Friday evening, police, Army and paramilitary personnel launched a joint operation in the forest belt covering parts of Udhampur and Kathua. Security teams searched areas including Khuban, Nagain, Khtrail, Godu Falal, Padetar, Chor Mottu, Kia, Kheba, Bhed, Marta and Joffar, along with nearby locations.

In Rajouri, another search operation was launched in Gaibas, Mithiyani, Mogla and Narla after villagers reported seeing two suspected armed men believed to be terrorists.

Officials said security forces had not made contact with the suspected individuals and searches were continuing.

Earlier drone incident in Poonch

The latest sighting comes after a similar incident earlier this year. On March 1, Army troops opened fire after a suspected Pakistani drone briefly crossed the LoC near a forward post in the Digwar area of Poonch.

Troops fired more than a dozen rounds in an attempt to bring down the UAV, but it returned towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said.

A search operation was subsequently carried out to check whether the drone had dropped weapons or narcotics. Officials had also reported another suspected Pakistani drone in the same area on February 27.