Pakistan drone carrying arms shot down in Kathua

Jammu/Kathua, June 20

The Border Security Force (BSF) today shot down a Pakistan drone strapped with arms along the International Border at Rathua village in Hiranagar sector of J&K’s Kathua district early today.

A US-made M4 semi-automatic rifle, two magazines with 60 rounds and seven M67 Chinese grenades were found mounted on the drone. A radio signal receiver, two GPS devices and four batteries were also recovered. The incident took place at 5.15 am. According to a senior BSF official, a patrol team of 19 Battalion noticed a “hexa copter” flying from the Pakistan side in the Pansar border outpost area.

“The drone was flying at a height of 150 feet inside the Indian territory. The troops reacted swiftly and fired 8-9 rounds, bringing it down. On recovery, it was found to be a China-made 17.5-kg hexa copter (8 ft x 6.2 ft) with heavy payload capacity,” he said.

The official said the 6-kg arms consignment was apparently to be delivered at a border village in Hiranagar sector. The BSF officials took it in their possession and informed senior officials, he said.

The BSF intelligence branch had been receiving inputs about possible use of drones to ferry arms from Pakistan. “Accordingly, the troops were put on high alert and the border domination was exponentially increased.”

NS Jamwal, IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier), said: “The drone was launched from the Pakistan side and the arms were apparently meant for delivery at one of the villages or settlements along the border.” — TNS