Punjab Police On Alert After Inputs Of Possible Terror Strike, Search Operations Underway

A massive cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab after inputs of a possible terror strike. Over 5,000 personnel are taking part in the search operation and would continue for three days, officials said. The decision was taken after Pakistani drone was spotted by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel over Ferozepur district in Punjab late on Wednesday evening. “The drone was spotted entering India from Pakistan side of the border at 7.55 pm by security officials and later by local individuals,” official sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"For the last two days we have been spotting a drone-like object hovering near our border with Pakistan. We have formed teams to investigate and have approached BSF also," Sukhvinder Singh, District Superintendent of Police, was quoted by news agency ANI.

On Monday, Pakistani drone was seen flying near HK Tower, a check post on the Hussainiwala border in Ferozepur. A search operation was launched after BSF informed the Punjab Police. The drone was seen flying from the Pakistan side of the border from 10 pm to 10.40 pm and again at 12.25 am when it crossed the Indian side.

One object was noticed going towards Pakistan side but mid-way its lights and sound went off and could not be sited further, according to a Hindustan Times report. Taking note of Pakistan using Chinese drones to airdrop weapons in Punjab, the Army has sounded an alert in the area.

Last month, police confirmed at least eight drone sorties, carrying 80 kg of weapons that were sent across the border into Punjab by revived Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) outufit backed by Pakistan and Germany-based terror group. Five people have so far been arrested by Punjab Police in connection with the drone drops.

"The deliveries were made on the intervening nights of September 6/7, 9/10 and the last one on 15/16. The last drone crashed at Rajoke Village, Khalra police station, in Tarn Taran, near a border drain which is 2km from the fencing on the international border with Pakistan," a senior Punjab Police official said.

With initial investigations revealing the use of drones to deliver terrorists weapons and communication hardware across the border, the chief minister has also urged the Central government to direct the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF) to launch necessary counter-measures to check any further threat from drones to the border state of Punjab.