Punjab Newsline | Fazilka
Amid a nationwide high alert ahead of Independence Day on August 15, security forces have foiled a major terror or smuggling attempt in the India-Pakistan border area of Fazilka, Punjab. According to officials, a drone coming from the Pakistani side once again attempted to infiltrate Indian territory.
Pakistani drone reportedly crossed the international border fencing and entered nearly 100 metres inside Indian territory. However, the intrusion was quickly detected due to the alertness of security agencies, prompting a swift response from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police.
As soon as security personnel received information about the drone's movement and suspected infiltration, the entire area was immediately sealed from all sides. BSF and Punjab Police teams took positions during the night and launched an intensive search operation in the border belt.
After nearly three hours of extensive searching, the security forces recovered the drone from a paddy field near the border village of Mumbe. During the examination of the drone and the packet that had been sent along with it, officials found a cache of lethal weapons, indicating a serious cross-border conspiracy.
The recovered consignment has been seized for forensic examination, and security agencies have started an investigation to determine the intended recipients of the weapons and whether the consignment was linked to terror networks or cross-border smuggling modules operating in Punjab.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing use of drones by Pakistan-based elements for sending weapons, narcotics, and other illegal consignments across the border. Security has been further tightened in the Fazilka sector and other sensitive border areas in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
