Amid intelligence inputs about Pakistan’s attempts to push terrorists across the border and drop drugs and weapons using drones, the administration of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir has imposed restrictions along the International Border to foil the nefarious designs of the enemy.
The restrictions were imposed within hours after the Border Security Force (BSF), along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, recovered drugs worth crores near the International Border in the RS Pura sector on Saturday.
Authorities in Kathua district have restricted “unnecessary movement” within a five-kilometre belt along the International Border, citing the possibility of cross-border firing, the need to prevent anti-national activities, and the safety of villagers.
Kathua District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma on Saturday issued the order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers executive magistrates to take preventive measures in urgent cases of apprehended danger to maintain public order and safety.
“The security situation in the border areas has become sensitive, and there is a possibility of cross-border firing at any time. Movement in the border areas is required to be restricted to ensure the utmost safety of villagers and prevent any anti-national activities,” the order reads.
Sharma said he was satisfied that sufficient grounds existed to issue the order for the immediate prevention of danger to human life and disturbance to public tranquillity.
“In exercise of the powers vested in me under Section 163 of the BNSS, I hereby restrict unnecessary movement in the border area within a strip of five kilometres from the International Border falling under the area of responsibility of the BSF unit, from Border Outpost (BOP) Paharpur forward to BOP Karol Krishna,” the order stated.
The district magistrate also prohibited the movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks, tippers, and multi-axle vehicles, on the old Samba–Kathua road between 9 pm and 6 am.
“The restrictions have come into force from February 14 and shall remain in effect for 60 days from the date of issuance unless rescinded earlier,” the order said, adding that any violation would invite punitive action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Rs 40 crore heroin recovered along IB in RS Pura
Earlier on Saturday, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police seized over 6.5 kilograms of heroin worth approximately Rs 40 crore along the International Border in the RS Pura sector.
The consignment is suspected to have been dropped from across the border using a drone.
Officials said the recovery was made from Nai Basti Karotana in the Baspur area near the International Border during a joint operation carried out by the 165 Battalion of the BSF and a JKP team.
They said the operation was launched after the BSF received specific inputs regarding suspicious drone activity along the border.
Acting swiftly, a joint cordon and search operation was conducted in the wheat fields of the area.
During the search at first light, two yellow-coloured packets containing 6.582 kilograms of heroin worth approximately Rs 40 crore were recovered, officials added.
Accordingly, a recovery memo was prepared on the spot in the presence of a magistrate, and FIR No. 36/2026 under Sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act was registered at Police Station RS Pura.
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