JAMMU: In stepped-up drone sightings, four flying machines flew over military installations and civilian areas in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts on Thursday and three of them returned after alert security personnel observed their movement and opened firing. Immediate reason of the drone movement was stated to be spying.
Around 10 pm on Thursday, a drone flew over Ramgarh sector along the International Border (IB) in Samba district. Security personnel observed movement of the suspicious object flying over a height of around 250 to 300 meters and inside 200 to 300 meters of the Indian territory. Troops fired around eight shots on drone after which it flew back to Pakistan. The drone had either been launched for the purpose of spying or had to drop weapons but returned after its movement was spotted by the security personnel. Another drone was observed by the people along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. Sources said local people have filmed movement of the flying object which is being examined by security agencies.
The object later flew back to Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Army fired on a Pakistani quadcopter after it tried to venture into the Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC). The quadcopter was spotted by the alert Army troops in Pallanwala sector in Jammu district. 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 also detected near the Jammu Air Force Station, the sources said. However, the IAF has not confirmed any drone sighting. On Wednesday, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel opened fire at a flying object after they spotted it near the International Border in the Arnia sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior official said.
On July 2, a quadcopter from Pakistan tried to enter Indian territory along the International Border from Arnia sector but retreated after it was fired at by the personnel of the BSF. 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.
