Poonch: Security forces on Monday launched a search operation in forward areas of Poonch district after nearly half-a-dozen drones from Pakistan were sighted hovering along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector, officials said.
According to officials, the drone activity was detected around 9.15 pm on Sunday over Balakote, Langote and Gursai nullah areas. The drones, suspected to have been deployed for surveillance, were reportedly flying at high altitude and returned to the Pakistani side within five minutes.
Following the sightings, security forces cordoned off the area and initiated a massive search operation with first light on Monday to ensure no weapons or narcotics were airdropped during the drone activity.
This was the second such incident in the last three days. Earlier, a drone was spotted by locals in the Gajansoo area of Jammu, which too disappeared back across the border without dropping any material.
Officials said the increasing use of drones by Pakistan for smuggling arms and narcotics across the border has posed a major challenge to security agencies in recent years. In February last year, police announced a cash reward of ₹3 lakh for information leading to recovery of material dropped by drones.
