Drones, low flying objects banned in J-K's Rajouri

Days after two low-intensity explosions were reported at Jammu Air Force Station, the Rajouri district administration on Wednesday ordered a ban on the operation of drones and low flying objects.

Rajouri:The border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir banned the operation of drones and low flying objects in its territory with immediate effect on Wednesday following Sunday's attack on a military installation in Jammu using drones, believed to be operated from across the boundary with Pakistan. Following the order, issued by Rajouri Deputy Magistrate RK Shavan, the government agencies using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance will have to first inform the local police station in-charge and executive magistrate, the order said.

On Sunday, two explosive payloads were dropped on an Indian Air Force station in Jammu within 6 minutes of each other by unidentified drones, injuring two security personnel and damaging a building. Another such attack was thwarted within 24 hours by alert security forces that opened fire on unidentified drones hovering over Kaluchak military base in Jammu. Several such sightings have taken place since then over military bases in the region.

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Experts have said that this is the first time that drones are being used in an attack on a major defence installation in the country. There have been several incidents of Pakistan-based terrorists using drones in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir to drop arms, ammunition, drugs, and money to fuel terrorism in the region. But experts said Sunday’s attack represented a new security threat.