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A suspected Pakistani drone was spotted over Samba’s Kandral village; security forces searched but found no illicit drops
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were put on alert on Saturday evening after a suspected Pakistani drone was sighted hovering briefly over Kandral village in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district. Officials said the drone‑like object appeared from across the International Border around 7 pm and remained visible for a couple of minutes before disappearing.
Following the sighting, troops immediately carried out a search operation in the area to rule out the possibility of illicit payloads such as arms, ammunition, or narcotics being dropped. The operation continued for several hours, but no objectionable material was recovered, officials confirmed.
The incident comes close on the heels of a major recovery earlier this month. On January 9, security forces intercepted an arms consignment in Paloora village of Ghagwal, also in Samba district. That consignment, believed to have been dropped by a drone from Pakistan, included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade.
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Drone activity has been reported repeatedly along sensitive border areas in recent weeks. In Rajouri and Poonch districts, several sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles were recorded amid heightened security preparations ahead of Republic Day. On at least three occasions, the Army opened fire at drones spotted near forward posts and subsequently lodged protests with Pakistani authorities over the incursions.
Officials say the increasing frequency of drone sightings underscores the need for vigilance along the border, particularly in the run‑up to national events. While Saturday’s incident did not result in any recovery, it has added to concerns about cross‑border attempts to smuggle weapons and contraband into Indian territory.
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