Drone-delivered arms seized near IB in Samba, J&K

An arms consignment, reportedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan , was recovered from a forward area near the International Border (IB) in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir , officials said on Saturday.

The cache, found in Paloora village of Ghagwal , included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade . The recovery comes amid heightened security ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, aimed at preventing any attempt by terrorists to disrupt the event.

A joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police launched the operation late Friday night following intelligence about a suspected drone crossing from across the border. The teams discovered a packet wrapped in yellow tape on the banks of a stream and recovered the weapons with assistance from a bomb disposal squad. Officials said the operation was still ongoing when reports were received.

In recent years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a rising trend of arms deliveries via drones, often originating from across the International Border. These unmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly being used by terrorist groups to smuggle pistols, grenades, ammunition, and other weapons into border districts, posing serious threats to public safety and national security.

Security forces, including the BSF and SOG, have remained highly alert and proactive, closely monitoring suspected drone activity and acting on intelligence inputs. Their swift and coordinated operations have repeatedly led to the recovery of such consignments before they could be used, preventing potential attacks and ensuring the safety of border communities. The recent seizure near Ghagwal underscores the effectiveness of these preventive measures and the vigilance maintained ahead of national events like Republic Day.