Drones seen hovering over vulnerable areas of Jammu for fourth consecutive day
HITESH MAHAJAN
Jammu: In the aftermath of the drone attack on Indian Air Force (IAF) Station here, first of its kind, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday began a house-to-house verification drive in residential colonies adjoining the Jammu airport.
The drive commenced from Peer Baba in Chatha area in which police personnel including SOG team visited every house nearby IAF station and collected full details of residents, including their contact numbers.
In the afternoon, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fitted with camera was also hovered by IAF over its station and nearby residential areas for several hours and additional floodlights were installed at IAF base.
Ban imposed on use of drones in Rajouri
Jammu: Amid heightened security across Jammu and Kashmir after the recent bombing of IAF station by armed drones here, authorities in border district Rajouri on Wednesday ordered ban on the storage, sale or possession and use and transport of the flying machines.
An order issued by District Magistrate, Rajouri, Rajesh Kumar Shavan also directed those having drones or like objects in their possession to deposit the same with local police station.
However, the government agencies using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance would get the local police station in-charge and executive magistrate informed, Shavan said in his order.
As per the order, Shavan imposed the ban/restrictions on the storage, sale, possession, use and transport of any drone or small flying objects/flying toys in the district in exercise of powers vested under section 144 of CrPC. However, those having already the drone cameras/flying objects or toys or like objects in their possession shall get the same deposited with the local Police Station against proper receipt, the order said.
Defending his decision, the district magistrate said it has been observed that anti-national elements are using drones and flying objects to cause damage, injury and risk to the human lives in certain parts of the Union Territory.
Whereas, it has also been noticed that for the last 10-15 years, the domestic use of small drone cameras has also increased in the society for capturing photos and videos in the social and culture gatherings and particularly the youth are more fascinated to have use of drone like toys and electronic gadgets.
Whereas in the current situation to avoid any confusion and to secure the aerial space near the vital installations and highly populated areas, it is rationale and expedient to discontinue the use of any drone/small flying toys/objects in all social and cultural gatherings to eliminate any risk of injury to the life and property, the order said. Shavan said since it was not possible to serve prior notice, it is, as such, being issued ex-parte. Any violation of this order shall attract punitive action as warranted under relevant law. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri shall ensure implementation of this order in letter and spirit, the order read.
Meanwhile, drones were seen hovering in the vulnerable areas of Jammu for the fourth consecutive day. The latest incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday as drones were seen hovering at around 600 meters above near Goswami Enclave in Kaluchak, Jammu at 4:40 AM and 4:52 AM on Wednesday. Although no official confirmation was provided, but sources said that two drones have been seen hovering in the early hours today.
Reports also claimed sighting of drones over Ratnuchak and Kaluchak around 1.08 AM and 3.09 AM on Tuesday and again over the Kunjwani garrison around 4.19 am.
Suspected drones were also spotted over army installations at Miran Sahib at around 9.32 pm on Tuesday and Kaluchak and Kunjwani at 4.40 am and 4.52 am on Wednesday, respectively, the officials said, adding that there was no reaction from the Army troops on the ground as the drones were flying at a high altitude.
According to sources, a team of the elite counter-terrorism unit National Security Guard (NSG) visited the IAF base, but it was not immediately known what actions it took.
In the first instance of Pakistan-based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations, two bombs were dropped at the IAF station in the early hours of Sunday, causing minor injuries to two airmen.
The explosions took place around 1.40 AM within six minutes of each other. The first blast ripped off the roof of a single-storey building at the technical area of the airport manned by the IAF in Satwari on the outskirts of Jammu. The second one was on the ground.
The aerial distance from the Jammu airport to the international border is 14 km.
There were also reports of sighting of unidentified drones over vital military installations during the previous three nights also.
The Army on Monday had confirmed the presence of drones over its brigade headquarters at Ratnuchak-Kaluchak station and said a major threat was thwarted by the alertness and proactive approach of the troops who engaged the unmanned vehicles after being spotted twice at 11.45 PM and 2.40 AM on Sunday night.
Both the drones disappeared after firing by the troops but no debris was found during the subsequent search operation in and around the camp.
The Kaluchak Army station was attacked by terrorists in 2002, in which 31 people including 10 children were killed. Six soldiers and a civilian lost their lives in another terrorist attack at the Sunjwan military station in February 2018.