Multiple drones sighted along LoC in Rajouri hours after Army chief’s warning

(Representative Image)

• Suspected Pakistani drones spotted near LoC in Rajouri; security forces on alert
• Counter-drone measures activated after sightings in Jammu and Kashmir
• Security forces intensify search after encounter with terrorists in Kathua district

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Suspected Pakistani drones were spotted along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday, prompting security forces to go on high alert, CNN-News18 reported.

According to the report, two drone-like objects believed to have crossed over from across the border were seen hovering over Dheri Dhara village near the LoC in the Keri sector around 7.35 pm. The aerial objects were later observed moving towards Kalali village.

Following the sighting, security agencies opened fire and activated counter-drone measures in the area. Border surveillance has since been intensified, the report said.

Earlier in the day, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu’s Kathua district. Intermittent firing was reported from the Najote forest area of Billawar after security forces launched a search operation based on inputs about suspected terrorist movement in a remote village, CNN-News18 reported.

Officials said the suspected terrorists opened fire after noticing the movement of security personnel, who retaliated while pushing deeper into the forest area to neutralise them. The Najote forest is located about 10 km from the Kamadh nallah in the Kahog forest belt, where an exchange of fire had taken place on January 7.

The cordon-and-search operation has since been intensified, with security forces continuing efforts to track down the terrorists.

Meanwhile, on January 12, suspected drone-like objects were spotted at multiple locations along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the activation of counter-drone systems.

A suspected drone was seen moving from Tain towards Topa in the Mankote sector of Poonch district around 6.25 pm. Another drone was spotted at Khabbar village in the Teryath area of Rajouri district at 6.35 pm, while a blinking light was observed from Dharmsal village in Kalakote towards Bharakh.

Army and security forces immediately deployed Counter-Unmanned Aerial System measures, following which the suspected drones were seen returning to the other side of the border, the report added.