Security forces launch counter-measures and ground searches in Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts on Sunday evening
According to details received by The Chenab Times, a high alert was declared across forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir on the evening of January 11, 2026, after security forces detected movement of suspected Pakistani drones along the International Border (IB) in Samba district and the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Defence sources reported that multiple drone-like objects originating from the Pakistan side entered Indian territory, hovered briefly over several locations, and returned after Indian Army troops activated counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) measures. The intrusions were observed between 6:25 pm and 7:15 pm.
In the Naushera-Rajouri sector along the LoC, troops in the Nowshera area fired from medium and light machine guns upon sighting a drone over Gania-Kalsian village around 6:35 pm. Another object with blinking lights was detected at Khabbar village in Teryath tehsil of Rajouri district at the same time, entering from Dharmsal village in Kalakote and proceeding towards Bharakh. In the Mankote sector of Poonch district, a similar flying object was seen moving from Tain towards Topa around 6:25 pm.
In the Ramgarh sector of Samba district along the IB, a drone-like object with blinking lights hovered for several minutes over Chak Babral village at approximately 7:15 pm. Following these sightings, security forces initiated extensive ground search operations in the affected forward areas to locate any possible drops or suspicious items.
The incidents come days after a significant recovery on January 9, 2026, when security personnel retrieved an arms consignment in Paloora village of Ghagwal tehsil, Samba district, near the IB. The cache included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, and one grenade, believed to have been dropped by a Pakistani drone.
These drone intrusions follow a pattern of increased aerial activity along the western border in recent months, with authorities attributing most such operations to attempts at smuggling arms, narcotics, and other contraband into Jammu and Kashmir. The regions of Rajouri, Poonch, and Samba, part of the Jammu division including the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley areas, remain highly sensitive due to their proximity to the border and history of infiltration attempts.
(Inputs from reports)
The Chenab Times News Desk