Heavy-lifting drones were used by Pakistan to drop AK-47 rifles, counterfeit currency and narcotics in 10 sorties spanned over eight days, an investigation into weapons seizure at Tarn Taran in Punjab has revealed.
The arms and ammunition, dropped by drones that came from across the border, was for terrorists to carry out 26/11-like attacks in Punjab and its neighboring states, sources in the Punjab Police have said.
The plan, supported by Pakistan ISI, was revealed after the Punjab Police seized a drone during its probe into the weapons seizure.
HOW DID DETAILS EMERGE
The recovery of drone, allegedly used to drop arms and ammunition in Punjab, was made on the basis of information provided by the four Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terrorists arrested from Tarn Taran on September 22. The arrested terrorists had made an attempt to burn the drone but failed. The recovery of the drone led police to the operation.
The drone has now been sent for a forensic examination to ascertain as to what type of gadgets were put in it avoid radar and other surveillance equipment.
EIGHT SORTIES TO DROP PAYLOAD
Investigations have revealed that Chinese drones with 10kg payloads were used to drop weapons.
The payloads were sent by Pakistan-based Khalistani terror groups between September 9 and 16, as per officials in security agencies
Arrested Khalistani terrorist Akashdeep has confessed that he was in contact with Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Ranjeet Singh Neeta. He said Neeta number was provided to him by another Khalistani terrorist Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga who lives in Germany.
Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga would share the information about the consignment route with Nita and the place and the time to drop consignments was decided by Akashdeep Singh, sources in the Punjab Police said.
As per sources, the powerful drone weighs nearly 10 kg and is capable of transporting 4kg weight in a single sortie. This implies that the drone was used for a number of sorties and not only carried arms and ammunition but also counterfeit currency and narcotics.
As per reports, the deliveries were made between September 6 and 16. The last drone, however, crashed in a Tarn Taran village.
TERROR MODULE BUSTED
The Punjab Police on Sunday had claimed to have busted a terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), backed by a group based in Pakistan and Germany. It said the terror group was conspiring to unleash a series of strikes in Punjab and adjoining states.
Five AK-47 rifles, 16 magazines and 472 rounds of ammunition, four Chinese-made 30 bore pistols, along with eight magazines and 72 rounds of ammunition; nine hand grenades, five satellite phones with their ancillary equipment, two mobile phones, two wireless sets and fake currency with the face value of Rs 10 lakh were seized.
WHAT HAS CM CAPT AMARINDER SAID?
Following a Punjab Police probe revealing the use of drones to deliver weapons from across the border, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to handle the "drone problem" at the earliest.
Amarinder Singh tweeted, "Recent incidents of Pakistan-origin drones dropping consignments of arms & ammunition is a new and serious dimension on Pakistan's sinister designs in aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370. Request @AmitShah ji to ensure that this drone problem is handled at the earliest".
Recent incidents of Pakistan-origin drones dropping consignments of arms & ammunition is a new and serious dimension on Pakistan's sinister designs in aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370. Request @AmitShah ji to ensure that this drone problem is handled at the earliest.
The Punjab chief minister had on Sunday urged the Centre to alert the Air Force and the Border Security Force about the possibility of drones being used to supply weapons from across the border and also direct them to launch necessary counter-measures.
Punjab Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta had said that the weapons were suspected to have been delivered recently from across the border by the ISI, state-sponsored jihadi and pro-Khalistani terrorist outfits working under its command.