Pakistani Balloons Found Near LoC in Akhnoor; Foreign Currency Attached

Akhnoor, Jammu & Kashmir: In a rare and unusual discovery along the Line of Control (LoC), two balloons were recovered from a village near Akhnoor on Monday. One balloon carried a Pakistani 5,000-rupee note, while the other had a US dollar bill attached, officials said.

Army sources reported that the balloons, shaped like airplanes and colored white and red, were found caught in a tree in the border village of Gunara. Along with the currency, a Pakistani mobile number and a QR code were attached to the balloons. Officials believe that these balloons had drifted from Pakistan across the international border. While the arrival of balloons from across the LoC is not uncommon in border areas, this is the first instance where foreign currency notes were attached.

Earlier Incidents Along the Border
On Sunday, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 16 red balloons that had landed in fields in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district, also originating from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in Rajouri district, a suspicious old grenade was discovered near Dhariala village. Local resident Shamsher Singh, while cutting grass for livestock, spotted the object and alerted both villagers and the police. Security forces secured the grenade, which is rusted and appears to be old. Authorities plan to safely diffuse the explosive following standard safety procedures. Investigations are ongoing to determine the grenade’s origin and how it ended up in the forested area.

Officials are continuing to examine both incidents, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the border regions of Jammu & Kashmir.