Drone drops explosives near India-Pakistan border in Amritsar, flees after BSF opens fire

Highlights

BSF said that it foiled a narcotics & weapon smuggling bid in Punjab by a Pakistani drone
According to BSF, the consignment was found in the field about 2.7 km from the fence
Notably, Pakistan-based terror outfits regularly use drones to smuggle explosives, weapons, drugs

A drone was sighted near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Amritsar in the wee hours on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported. Taking prompt action, Border Security Force (BSF) jawans opened fire at the drone following which it flew back towards Pakistan.

A search operation was carried out by the BSF officials immediately and explosives and a pistol were found at two spots.

The BSF claimed that jawans foiled a narcotics and weapon smuggling bid. A senior official of the force said troops fired at the drone after they heard a "buzzing sound of a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistani side to the Indian side" around 1 am in the Panjgrain area of Gurdaspur sector.

"During a search in the area of village Ghaggar and Singhoke, two packets of yellow colour with suspected contraband have been recovered so far," the senior officer said. It is suspected that the drone dropped the packets, he added.

A pistol was also seen wrapped in the packet, and the consignment was found in the field about 2.7 km from the fence, the officer said. A search is on to find if the drone too was downed or if it escaped, he added. Meanwhile, a larger search operation has been launched in the region.

Drones are regularly used by Pakistan-based terror outfits to send explosives, weapons and drugs to India. The Indian security forces have foiled multiple drugs, weapon smuggling bids. Jawans often conduct anti-drone exercises along the borders.

India and Pakistan share a border of around 3,30 km. Three states -- Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir share a border with Pakistan.