Drone spotted; two boxes seized in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 13

Security and intelligence agencies have been put on alert after two empty boxes dropped by a drone were found at Bharopal border village falling under the Gharinda police station here early today.

The jawans spotted an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) while it was returning after making the drop. The troops opened fire but it hovered back into the Pakistan territory.

A search operation was launched by the Border Security Force and the Punjab Police in the border villages where drone movement was noticed. Two empty boxes were later found near Bhaini village. The police suspected the consignment sent from across the border was apparently taken away by smugglers.

“It could be anything — heroin, weapons or hand grenades,” said an official part of the search operation.

Recent recoveries

Aug 8: A tiffin bomb with 2kg RDX, 4 grenades dropped by drones found near Daleke village

Aug 10: Tiffin bomb seized after drone spotted at Mullankot village, near Bachchwind and Daleke villages

Sept 10: BSF seizes 6 kg heroin smuggled using drones near Havelian border outpost in Tarn Taran area

The police said an FIR was being registered and further investigations were on to identify the suspects who retrieved the consignment.

“We haven’t ruled out anything. Police teams are still searching the area. We hope to get some clues about the suspects who retrieved the consignment. It is a serious issue and we are trying to identify the smugglers,” said Amritsar rural SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana.

Sources added each of the two boxes, measuring one square feet, could contain up to 4 kg heroin or nearly 10 weapons.

A BSF official said agencies concerned besides the Punjab Police were informed about the drone sighting and subsequent seizure.