Pak drones carrying arms spotted in Ajnala

Amritsar, December 3

At least five drone sorties carrying arms or contraband were made in past three days from across the border by Pakistan-based “anti-national forces” supported by the ISI in Kot Razada border village in the Ajnala sector here, police sources said.

The first attempt was made on the intervening night of November 30 and December 1 while BSF jawans heard buzzing sounds of drones in the area during next intervening night (December 1-2). They also fired indiscriminately to shoot it down, but they returned to Pakistan.

Though an initial search operation yielded nothing, intensive search operations are continuing in the area. According to sources, the sorties were made between 11.15 pm to 12.30 am on the intervening night of December 1 and 2 and between midnight to 12.40 am on November 30- December1.

Similar drone sorties were made in September this year to pump in around 80-kg weapons. This had come to light during the interrogation of an alleged terror module busted by the Punjab Police following seizure of weapons in Tarn Taran.

As the winter sets in and dense fog engulfs the region, the BSF faces a stiff challenge to check the movement of drones from across the international border.

The BSF officials said the issue of purchasing an anti-drone system with 360-degree surveillance capacity and GPS jamming system was being taken up at appropriate levels.

“Until then, we are working in close coordination with the Punjab Police to strengthen the second line of defence in order to check the movement of drones where they can drop the consignments of drugs or arms,” a BSF official said.

The BSF had been holding monthly coordination meetings with the Punjab Police in this regard, he added.

The use of drones first came to light in September last year when the police nabbed some alleged Khalistani operatives and recovered a burnt drone from their possession. — TNS