Drone case: Initial report concurs with testimony | Economic Times

Initial forensic reports on improvised explosive devices by the National Security Guards has concurred with the testimony of an Indian Air Force sentry, who reported that he heard dropping of explosives at the Jammu Air Force station. The sentry reported that he heard the buzz of a drone, followed by two explosions within six minutes. However, none of the radars or security cameras installed at the IAF base could provide visuals of the drones.Forensic examination at the blast site revealed use of shrapnel, ball bearings packed with a cocktail consisting RDX. A final report on the similarity between the two IEDs is awaited. “Unlike a timer device or remote controlled IEDs, the explosives were fitted with impact charge and detonated minutes after they were dropped,” said an official familiar with the forensic reports.One of the blasts caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area. Preliminary investigations indicated that the bombs were assembled by someone trained in military explosives, he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting with defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday. With reports of two drones spotted over Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military area in Jammu, the PM discussed futuristic challenges in the defence sector and arming the forces with modern equipment apart from aspects related to involving youth, startups and strategic community.Earlier in the day, the home ministry transferred the investigations into the drone attack to the National Investigation Agency. A team of NIA officials visited the spot to carry out preliminary investigations later in the day. The sleuths were yet to determine the flight path of the drones that dropped the bombs. “We will be examining the CCTV footage, scanning radar images installed around the IAF base. It appears that drones which could fly beyond the visual line of sight were used to drop the payloads,” said a senior NIA official. The aerial distance from the Jammu airport to the international border is 14 km. The drones that dropped the explosives either flew back across the border or to some other destination at night. No debris of the UAV that carried out the strike was found at the location.