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JAMMU: Security forces picked up movement of suspected drones in several forward areas along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts of J&K on Sunday evening, officials said.

All flying objects came from the Pakistan side, and returned after hovering over Indian territory for a few minutes, they said. According to officials, security forces have launched a search operation on the ground after noticing the suspected drone activity in the forward areas. In a related development, security forces launched a massive search operation after intel agencies detected satellite communication by suspected terrorists near the IB in Rajpura area of Jammu's Kanachak sector Sunday. Massive search operation on near IB in Kanachak sector of JammuArmy troops guarding the Nowshera sector along the LoC in Rajouri, fired from medium and light machine guns on observing drone movement over GaniaKalsian village around 6.35 pm, officials said. Another drone was noticed at Khabbar village in Teryath in Rajouri district at 6.35 pm. The flying object, with blinking light, came from the direction of Dharmsal village in Kalakote and moved further towards Bharakh, officials said.

A drone-like object with blinking light was also seen hovering for several minutes over Chak Babral village in Ramgarh sector of Samba around 7.15 pm, they said. Another drone-like object was seen moving from the direction of Tain towards Topa in Mankote sector, located along the LoC, in Poonch district at 6.25 pm.

Earlier on Friday night, security forces recovered an arms consignment, allegedly dropped by a drone that originated in Pakistan, in Paloora village of Ghagwal near the IB in Samba district.

The recovery included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds and a grenade, they added. In another development, security forces launched a massive search operation after intelligence agencies detected satellite communication by suspected terrorists near the IB in Jammu’s Kanachak sector on Sunday.

The communication was traced to a Thuraya satellite device around 3pm, and its GPS location was tracked, said officials. “Soon after, a joint team of the Army, J&K Police’s SOG, BSF, and CRPF, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation,” an official said. While nothing suspicious had been discovered so far, further combing was under way, officials said. The SSP Poonch chaired a meeting with Village Defence Group members from the border village of Jhullas on Sunday, and directed the volunteers to remain alert and committed to protecting their villages while strictly sticking toSOPs.