Armymen stationed along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu division fired on multiple Pakistani quadcopters which tried to infiltrate into the Indian side early on Friday.

The quadcopters were seen at two different locations inside the LoC in Poonch sector after which soldiers opened fire. The flying objects were seen at Baloni in Mendhar and Gulpur area in the district.

An intense search operation was launched to see if the quadcopters had dropped arms, ammunition or narcotics. Terror groups in Pakistan use these flying objects to drop narcotics and other contraband to be sold in India. The money generated through the sale of drugs is used in terrorism.

Quadcopters, which are flown from Pakistan side to drop consignments, are generally termed as drones in reports.

An official of the Army informed that at least four quadcopters tried to enter into the Indian territory in Poonch, but shots were fired from rifles to force them to return. The flying objects returned soon after they were detected by the soldiers, the official informed.

The official said troops noticed two quadcopters entering the Balnoi area of Mendhar around 6.30 am and opened fire, but the remotely controlled machines returned. Similarly, a couple of quadcopters hovering over Gulpur sector around the same time returned in the face of firing by Indian troops, they said.

This is for the first time that multiple quadcopters were sent by Pakistan side into this side of the border. This was done apparently to distract the soldiers and drop arms or narcotics.

On February 12, soldiers had fired on a Pakistani drone in Mankote area of Mendhar.

The J&K police had recently announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh to anyone providing information about drones flown from across the border with a purpose to drop weapons and narcotics.

Pakistan is focusing on Rajouri and Poonch sector where terrorism has revived over past few years. Multiple terror attacks have taken place in these two districts.

Courtesy: The Tribune India: 16th Feb , 2024