Drone-dropped arms found in Akhnoor

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, September 22

In a fresh case of aerial dropping of arms and ammunition through drone from the Pakistan side, the J&K Police and the Army found drone-dropped arms at Sohal Khad, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in the Akhnoor sub-division of Jammu district late on September 21 night.

According to official sources, a team of the J&K Police and special forces troops of the Army launched an operation in border areas of Sohal Khad, Shamshan Ghat, Punnu Chowk, Sohal Market and found two consignments of arms and ammunition.

The recoveries

Shridhar Patil, SSP, Jammu, said they recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, three AK magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 MM ammunition, one Star Pistol, two pistol magazines, 14 rounds of 9 MM ammunition (Star Pistol), packaging stuff containing blue thermocol wrapped in adhesive tape with wooden attached fittings (fittings two packets) and synthetic/parachute thread two rolls about 300m in length each.

While laying hands on the consignment, the sound of a drone was heard, but due to darkness, the same was not visible. Continuous search led to the recovery of another consignment of arms and ammunition. “The arms and ammunition were airdropped by terrorists to carry out terror activities in J&K in Kashmir Valley. The initial probe suggests that the Jaish-e-Mohammed is behind this,” said Shridhar Patil, SSP, Jammu.

Patil said preliminary investigation revealed that the drone could move a distance of 13-14 km. This is a new technique being used by terror groups to drop weapons for their handlers, he said.

The SSP said they recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, three AK magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 MM ammunition, one Star Pistol, two pistol magazines, 14 rounds of 9 MM ammunition (Star Pistol), packaging stuff containing blue thermocol wrapped in adhesive tape with wooden attached fittings (fittings two packets) and synthetic/parachute thread two rolls about 300m in length each.

Meanwhile, there has been a sudden rise in the incidents of using drones for dropping arms, ammunition and narcotics towards this side of the border from the Pakistan side.

On September 19, security agencies had arrested three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants from Rajouri district and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from their possession. These were dropped by from across the LoC in Rajouri district.

On June 20, the BSF had shot down an arms-laden Pakistan drone in Rathua village of the Hiranagar sector in Kathua district.