28.6.21

India's First Terror Drone Attack

Two low-intensity explosives-laden drones crashed in the Indian Air Force station in Jammu within a gap of a few minutes around 1:40 am on Sunday, injuring two IAF personnel and marking the first time suspected Pakistan-based terrorists using drones to strike vital installations, said officials.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh said the drones were used to drop explosives inside the air force station and that a first information report was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. “There was use of drone with payload in both the blasts at Jammu airfield suspected to have dropped the explosive material. Police have registered an FIR and investigation is on,” Singh told media persons.

Police officials said such low-flying drones may have been operated from an area near the site of the attack. They said at least two suspects have been detained from Satwari area of Jammu in this connection but no damage to equipment or machines in the station was reported due to the blast. The two injured IAF personnel were out of danger.

The IAF’s official Twitter handle said: “Two low-intensity explosions were reported early Sunday morning in the technical area of Jammu Air Force Station. One caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area. There was no damage to any equipment. Investigation is in progress along with civil agencies.”

Officials said the likely targets of the attacks could have been the helicopters parked near the site of the blast. Teams from the National Investigation Agency, National Security Guards and Special Forces reached the spot to assess the situation and collect evidence for further investigation.

Airports across J&K in Jammu, Srinagar and Awantipora, and the IAF stations of Ambala and Pathankot were put on high alert. However, flight operations at Jammu airport, near which the attack took place, remained normal.

No comments: