By Shivli Singh
On Saturday, security forces said there were multiple drone intrusion attempts detected near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Indian Army firing tracer rounds. The sources said drones had been observed during nighttime patrols in forward areas near the LoC. Troops fired tracer rounds toward the aerial objects to monitor and discourage chase routes into Indian airspace. The drones were either withdrawn or neutralised before they threatened the operation, authorities said.
A video of that operation has since shown tracer rounds flickering in the night sky as troops responded to the intrusion. The pictures have also been compared to last year’s Operation Sindoor, a similar counter-drone campaign sent to the border to try to curtail infiltration and smuggling.
The drones, say security forces, are likely to be used for reconnaissance, or to drop weapons, narcotics or communication equipment to terrorists in the vicinity.
Cross-border drone operations have emerged in recent years as an increasingly intense threat as an alternative to traditional border security efforts. Since the incident, security forces intensified surveillance of sensitive locations near the LoC. More counter-drone gadgets and night-vision assets have been deployed and patrols increased to prevent further infiltration.
Army officials, intelligence services and local police are also tightly coordinated and provide real-time monitoring of aerial activity in border districts, according to the officials.
Villagers nearby must also inform authorities about suspicious objects and activity. This recent intrusion attempt comes when the security forces are still attempting to stabilise Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in winter when infiltration attempts in the area tend to be on the boil. More information would be given as investigations into this drone activity go forward, officials said.