Drone spotted in Ajnala, security forces on alert

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 6

The Border Security Force and the Punjab Police carried out search operation in Sundarnagar border outpost area in Ajnala, in Amritsar sector, following sighting of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) here late on Sunday night.

Drone sorties a serious concern

• According to the police, the drone was sighted twice – once around 11pm and another at 12 midnight. The BSF jawans fired at the drone, which returned safely
• The BSF and Punjab Police teams searched the area till late in the evening on Monday to find out if anything was smuggled into the Indian territory. A similar drone sortie was made on December 1, when a 3.5-kg heroin was seized during a search operation
• In the recent past, drone sorties have become a matter of serious security concern as anti-national forces in Pakistan were supplying hand grenades, tiffin bombs and contraband to create law and order problem in the border state, especially in view of the upcoming Assembly poll.
• The state government has strengthened the second line of defence besides patrolling in the border belt for thwarting any untoward incident. The police confiscated hand grenades and tiffin bombs while busting alleged terror modules recently.

According to the police authorities, the drone was sighted twice – once around 11pm and another at 12 midnight. The BSF jawans fired at the drone, which returned back safely.

The BSF and Punjab Police teams searched the area till late in the evening on Monday to find out if anything was smuggled into the Indian territory. A similar drone sortie was made on December 1, when a 3.5-kg heroin was seized during a search operation.

In the recent past, drone sorties have become a matter of serious security concern as anti-national forces in Pakistan were supplying hand grenades, tiffin bombs and contraband to create law and order problem in the border state, especially in view of the upcoming Assembly poll.

The state government has strengthened the second line of defence besides patrolling in the border belt for thwarting any untoward incident. The police confiscated hand grenades and tiffin bombs while busting alleged terror modules recently.

The Punjab Police have been on high alert following the seizure of RDX from Gurdaspur and regular confiscation of China-made hand grenades used by the Pakistan army.