Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated symbolic image for representational purposes only, not actual footage of the incident.
Rajouri, January 13, 2026: Indian Army troops opened fire after multiple suspected Pakistani drones were detected entering Indian airspace along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday evening, defence officials said. The sightings triggered immediate counter-unmanned aerial system measures as troops moved swiftly to neutralise potential threats in the sensitive border region.
According to officials, the drone-like objects were first noticed hovering briefly over the Manjakote sector before retreating towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Around 7 pm, army personnel fired at a few suspected drones after they crossed into Indian territory over the Dunga Gala area in the Chingus belt of Rajouri. The objects later vanished and are believed to have returned across the LoC.
Defence sources said additional drone movement was detected at around 7.35 pm near forward areas of Dheri Dhara village, prompting troops to fire several live rounds as a precautionary measure. Standard counter-drone protocols were activated across the sector to ensure no aerial intrusion went unchecked.
The latest incidents come amid increased vigilance along the LoC and the International Border following a spate of drone sightings in recent days. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has raised strong concerns with Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) over repeated drone activity along the Jammu sector, officials indicated.
Security agencies suspect such drones are often used for surveillance or for dropping arms, ammunition, or narcotics across the border. Search operations were launched in areas where the drones were sighted to rule out the possibility of any airdropped consignments.
Earlier, similar drone activity was reported in the Nowshera sector, where troops fired medium and light machine guns after spotting aerial movement over Gania-Kalsian village. Drone sightings were also recorded in parts of Rajouri, Poonch and Samba districts, including Teryath, Kalakote, Mankote and Chak Babral, though the objects reportedly returned within a short time.
The heightened alert follows the recent recovery of an arms consignment in Samba district, where security forces intercepted weapons allegedly dropped by a drone from across the border. The seizure included pistols, magazines, ammunition and a grenade, reinforcing concerns about the use of drones for cross-border smuggling and infiltration.
The Indian Army has reiterated that it remains fully prepared to counter aerial threats along the LoC and the International Border, maintaining round-the-clock surveillance to safeguard national security.
