Major terror strike averted, searches on for militants
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: In a major success, Jammu Police today recovered a huge quantity of weapons dropped by a drone along the International Border in Arnia sector in this district and averted Pakistan-backed terror plot to trigger blasts here.
SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli told the Excelsior that police teams swung into action after getting input of drone activity along the International Border in Arnia sector early today.
A search operation was launched by the police after reports that Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and The Resistance Force (TRF) at the behest of ISI have dropped weapons using drone in Arnia sector, Kohli said.
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The operation led to the recovery of one pistol with two magazines and 70 rounds, three detonators, three remote-controlled IEDs, three bottles of explosives, one bundle of cortex wire, two-timer IEDs and six grenades at Treva village of Arnia sector.
The explosives were dropped by a drone, which is reported to have intruded into the Indian side in Arnia belt of R S Pura from across the border, they said.
The dropping of explosives suggests a major terror plan of the LeT and the TRF, which has been foiled, police said.
An FIR No. 12/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at police station Arnia and further investigation into the matter case is on, the officials said.
Earlier, the Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire at a flying object along the International Border (IB) in R S Pura sector.
The flying object, possibly a drone, was trying to intrude into the Indian territory from across the border but was forced to retreat, they said.
Movement of a flying object was detected along the IB in R S Pura-Arnia sector, prompting alert BSF troops to open fire at it, the sources said, adding over 20 rounds were fired.
The flying object was forced to return, they said.
Drones have frequently been used by terror elements from across the IB to drop weapons and explosive materials as well as narcotics.
Only a day before, Jammu Police had arrested a militant of The Resistance Front (TRF) hailing from Shopian district in South Kashmir and recovered one grenade from his possession which he was planning to throw at a crowded place.
A terror attack was averted with the arrest of the TRF militant.
Police officials said it couldn’t be ascertained immediately where the consignment of arms and ammunition dropped by the drone had to be taken by the militants or their Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
Though police conducted searches in Arnia, no arrests could be made immediately. It appears that the militants/OGWs who had to pick up the consignment didn’t turn up after knowing that it has been recovered by the police.
Further investigations in the case are on, the officials said, adding the recovery is quite significant and major terror attacks have been averted with the seizures.