Pakistani Drone Sighting Prompts Security Hunt in Samba Sector
A Pakistani drone was sighted near Jammu’s Samba border, triggering a search by security forces.
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir launched a comprehensive search operation late Friday after locals reported sighting a suspected Pakistani drone hovering over Nanga village in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district, along the International Border (IB). The unidentified object, observed crossing from the Pakistani side around 10 p.m., raised immediate concerns of potential cross-border infiltration or airdropping activities, prompting swift mobilisation of army, Border Security Force (BSF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police teams. No airdropped payload has been recovered as of Saturday morning, but the incident underscores persistent tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and IB, where such sightings have surged amid regional instability.
The drone, described by villagers as emitting a low hum and maintaining altitude for several minutes, was spotted hovering over agricultural fields and residential areas in Nanga, a border hamlet approximately 5 km from the IB fence. Eyewitnesses alerted the nearest BSF post, leading to the activation of anti-drone protocols, including radar sweeps and thermal imaging.
"The object appeared to retreat towards the border after lingering briefly, but we cannot rule out any drop," a senior police official told PTI, speaking on condition of anonymity. Search parties, equipped with metal detectors and sniffer dogs, combed a 2 km radius around the village, focusing on potential landing sites for contraband like narcotics, arms, or explosives—common in past incursions.
This event fits a disturbing pattern of drone activities from across the border, with over 350 sightings reported in Jammu and Punjab sectors since January 2025, according to BSF data. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often low-cost quadcopters modified for smuggling, have been linked to terror groups attempting to supply Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen operatives.
Notable precedents include the 2023 recovery of 5 kg of heroin worth Rs 35 crore near the IB and a 2024 arms drop in Kathua district. The Indian Army's indigenous anti-drone systems, deployed along the western frontier since 2022, have neutralised over 100 such threats, but gaps in nighttime surveillance persist in rugged terrain.
Also Read: Cyclone Shakthi: Rare Storm Triggers Maharashtra Coastal Alerts
As the search continues into Saturday, security has been beefed up in adjacent villages like Supwal and Chhan, with night patrols intensified and villagers advised to report suspicious lights or sounds. The Indian government has repeatedly raised these violations at the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) hotline with Pakistan, demanding cessation, though Islamabad denies involvement, attributing them to "technical malfunctions".
Amid ongoing peace talks' fragility post the 2021 ceasefire renewal, this sighting could strain bilateral channels further. Authorities urge calm while investigations, including forensic analysis of any debris, proceed to ascertain the drone's origin and intent.
Also Read: Bail Granted in High-Profile ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ Case, Section 152 Questioned
