Four drones spotted in 32 hours near IB and LoC

Jammu district is witnessing drones in its area. At least four fresh drone sightings were witnessed in the critical Indian Army installations on Thursday near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International border in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua, Samba as well as Jammu district in the past 32 hours. The drone activity was spotted near key Kaluchak military station, just days after the unmanned explosive-laden aircraft systems conducted twin attacks on Indian Air Force Station in Jammu, missing the fighter aircraft hanger nearby.

A targeted aerial drone activity had been witnessed by the Indian Armed forces along the line of control in the Pallanwala sector of Khour near and the Army installation in Samba and Hiranagar sector of Kathua at least thrice prior to the recent sightings on July 15. Meanwhile, the Army fired on a Pakistani quadcopter after it tried to venture into the Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC) here, official sources said on Thursday. The quadcopter was spotted by the alert Army troops in Pallanwaka sector around 9 pm on Wednesday, they said. The sources said the quadcopter returned to the Pakistani side when the troops opened fire at it to bring it down. It was basically sent for surveillance of the area, they said. A blinkering white light was detected near the Jammu Air Force Station, the sources said. However, the IAF has not confirmed any drone sighting.

In what was the first instance of Pakistan-based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations, two bombs were dropped at the IAF station in Jammu city in the early hours of June 27, causing minor injuries to two personnel. Authorities in various districts, mostly in border districts in Jammu and Kashmir, have banned the storage, sale or possession of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.