Farmer rewarded with Rs 3 lakh for alerting security forces about Pakistani drone

Srinagar, Mar 01: A farmer from Nandpur village in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir has been rewarded with a sum of Rs 3 lakh for his vigilance in alerting security forces about a Pakistani drone found in his field back in January.

Bhagwan Das, engaged in spraying insecticides on his agricultural land, stumbled upon the drone and promptly notified the Border Security Force (BSF) about the discovery, which was believed to have originated from across the border in Pakistan.

In recognition of his contribution to national security, Das was honored during a ceremony held at Chamliyal village in Samba on Thursday. The event saw the presence of BSF Inspector General DK Boora, Samba SSP Vinay Kumar Sharma, as well as residents from nearby villages and schoolchildren.

During the ceremony, Boora highlighted the Union Home Ministry's approval of a plan to construct a protection bund along the International Border (IB) aimed at safeguarding farmers. This project, slated to be completed within the next five years, underscores the government's commitment to enhancing border security and ensuring the safety of local residents.

SSP Sharma emphasized the Jammu and Kashmir Police's policy of rewarding individuals who provide timely information about activities such as the presence of cross-border tunnels or Pakistani drones.