Five drones were spotted on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir near vital Army installations. Sources said that these drones were reported in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the evening hours. These sightings were reported in Samba’s Nandpur, Kathua’s Hiranagar, and Jammu’s Satwari, Miran Sahib and Amphala.
These sightings occurred on a day Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat was at the forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) to take stock of the Army’s operational preparedness and the security situation in Jammu region.
Gen Rawat on Thursday concluded his two-day visit to Jammu to review the security situation in the aftermath of drone attacks on the Jammu Air Force Station. He visited Rajouri and Poonch sectors along the LoC and reviewed the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness.
Additionally, CDS Rawat also reviewed the anti-infiltration grid during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He was briefed by the Northern Army Commanders on the situation along the LoC.
The CDS’ visit comes in the wake of increased new challenges faced by the armed forces, mainly drones coming from Pakistan. In addition, alert forces have repeatedly thwarted infiltration attempts by Pakistani terrorists even as the drone threat looms in the Union Territory. His visit also gains importance in the wake of reports that terror launch pads across the border have become active again and infiltration bids have surged in recent weeks.
On Thursday, DGP Dilbag Singh chaired a high-level joint meeting in which the overall security scenario of Kashmir was reviewed. He stressed upon officers to review the security of their respective districts regularly. He said that terrorists and their masters across the border are attempting to create disturbances and added that forces have to be extra alert to foil their evil designs. He emphasised that to combat terrorism more effectively a strategy for the strengthening of operational capabilities is needed for which joint operational drills of forces should be planned using latest electronic gadgets.
DGP said that OGW networks which help in sustaining the terrorism and also involved in the recruitment of local youths need to be targeted. He said that with joint efforts various such networks were busted in the past and added that more intelligence sharing and coordination between forces would help in smashing more such networks.
As for the sighting of five drones, it came days after a drone blast at the Jammu Air Force station, which injured two Indian Air Force personnel. Investigating officers have said the attackers used a cocktail of RDX and nitrate in the IEDs, which were used to carry out the blast using the two drones in a first-of-its-kind terror attack. The initial reports of the investigation, currently being carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) suggest that the drones came from across the border.
Following the Jammu air base attack, the Centre had given the go-ahead to procure anti-drone technology. Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been tasked with procuring the anti-drone systems for the almost 3,500 km-long International Border and the civilian airports.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued draft rules to ensure ease of using drones in India on the basis of “trust, self-certification and non-intrusive monitoring”. The Drone Rules, 2021, once notified, will supersede the UAS Rules, 2021, which came into force on March 12 this year. WITH AGENCY INPUTS