The border is buzzing again, and not in a good way. As of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri’s Keri sector is on high alert after multiple drone sightings in Doonga Gali.
The thing is, this isn’t just a one-off. Or nothing. Let’s be real, this is the second time in 48 hours that these “blinking lights” have crossed over from Pakistan. Those too. The Army had to open fire to push them back, and now the whole sector is under a massive “cordon and search” (CASO) because everyone knows what these drones usually carry: pistols, grenades, or drugs.
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The “Border Drone” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the “tech war” on the LoC is getting aggressive right before Republic Day.
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The Sightings: On Tuesday night, drones were spotted hovering over Dheri Dhara village.1 The thing is, just 48 hours earlier, similar birds were seen in Samba and Poonch.2 And then there’s the recovery—police just found two Chinese 9mm pistols and a hand grenade in Samba’s Paloora village.3
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The “Lagaam” Warning: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi didn’t mince words yesterday.4 He literally told his Pakistani counterpart, “Lagaam lagaiye” (put a leash on it).5 The thing is, he thinks these are “defensive drones” sent to sniff out gaps in Indian lines because they’re scared of what’s coming next.
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Operation Sindoor 2.0: And here’s the kicker—the Chief confirmed that Operation Sindoor is still “on.” If you forgot, that was the massive tri-service strike back in May 2025 after the Pahalgam attack. India hit 9 terror camps and killed over 100 terrorists. The thing is, Dwivedi says India has “expanded the conventional space,” meaning we’re ready for a ground move if Pakistan makes one more mistake.6
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The “88-Hour” Mobilization: The Army is boasting about how fast they can move now. During the peak of Sindoor, they were fully mobilized and ready for a full-scale ground war in just 88 hours.7 It’s an ongoing situation where the drones are likely trying to see if that machinery is moving again.
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LoC Security Dashboard: Jan 14, 2026
| Incident Type | Location | Status |
| Drone Sighting | Doonga Gali (Keri Sector) | Repelled by Army fire. |
| Arms Recovery | Paloora Village (Samba) | 2 Pistols, 1 Grenade, 16 Rounds. |
| Drone Recon | Chak Babral (Ramgarh) | Spotted hovering for several minutes. |
| Military Status | Operation Sindoor | Active/Ongoing. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The Army Chief mentioned that India is raising a dedicated Rocket-cum-Missile Force—similar to what China and Pakistan have.8 The thing is, with Pinaka rockets (120km range) and Pralay missiles getting more funding, the “drone smuggling” game might soon be met with a much heavier response.9
It’s an ongoing situation where the border is a tinderbox. With Republic Day less than two weeks away, the troops aren’t just watching the skies; they’re waiting for an excuse to finish what started in May 2025.
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End…
