Pak drones dropped arms in Punjab: DGP

Amritsar: Groups based in Pakistan reportedly used a drone to drop weapons inside the Indian territory near Khalra village in Tarn Taran district earlier this month, violating Indian air space.

The arms were believed to be meant for terrorists in Punjab or Kashmir, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta said. He said it was the first incident of its kind.

The police had last week arrested 10 persons in Tarn Taran following a mysterious blast.

The DGP said the drone incident coincided with the busting of a terror module with the arrest of four persons affiliated with the now revived Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) which was backed by a Pakistan and Germany-based terror organisation.

Five AK-47 rifles, pistols, satellite phones and hand grenades were seized from the module members.

After initial investigations revealed that drones were being used to deliver weapons and communication hardware from across the border, the Punjab CM approached the Centre, asking that directions be issued to the IAF and BSF for counter-measures to thwart any threat from drones to the border state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday requested Home Minister Amit Shah to look into the issue first hand.

Singh further said the drone incidents were just one of Pakistan's "sinister designs" following the scrapping of J&K special status under Article 370.

"Recent incidents of Pakistan-origin drones dropping consignments of arms and ammunition is a new and serious dimension on Pakistan's sinister designs in aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370.

Request Amit Shah ji to ensure that this drone problem is handled at the earliest," Amarinder Singh tweeted.

According to a communique by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's office, the terror group was conspiring to unleash a series of terrorist strikes in Punjab and adjoining states.

CM Amarinder Singh, meanwhile, has decided to hand over further investigations in the case to the NIA as the module is suspected to have international links.