Search Operation Launched in Samba After Suspected Pakistani Drone Sighting

JAMMU, Mar 14: Security forces on Saturday launched a massive search operation in several forward villages of Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district after a suspected Pakistani drone crossed the International Border and briefly entered Indian territory, officials said.

The drone was spotted for a few minutes over Kandral, Abtal and Bahadurpur villages in the Ramgarh sector late Friday night, prompting heightened surveillance in the area, they said.

Officials said security personnel kept the region under strict watch and began a large-scale search operation at first light to ensure that no weapons or narcotics had been airdropped from across the border.

The development comes amid recent drone-related smuggling attempts along the border. In the past two days, security forces recovered more than 3.5 kilograms of heroin worth over Rs 20 crore in the international market after consignments were dropped by drones in border villages of the R S Pura sector near Jammu.

Two suspected narcotic smugglers were also detained for questioning on Friday in connection with the latest heroin recovery in the R S Pura sector, officials added. (Agencies)