Rajasthan Police Recover RDX, Ready-To-Use Bombs From Pakistan Drone Drop Near Border

Rajasthan police have recovered 7.75 kg of RDX, ready-to-use bombs, pistols and 867 cartridges from a suspected Pakistan drone drop near the international border in Sri Ganganagar. Two men were reportedly arrested while collecting the consignment.

Investigators suspect the explosives may have been intended for a terror attack during the festive season or ahead of elections in Punjab. The intended target remains unknown. The Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), which initially suspected a drug delivery, discovered the weapons and explosives during the operation.

Three Drones Drop Explosives Near Border

The incident took place on the intervening night of October 12 and 13 in a field near village 12 KD in Raola, Sri Ganganagar district, around five kilometres from the India-Pakistan border. According to investigators, three drones reportedly launched from Pakistan dropped packages in the area. ANTF personnel caught two young men, both around 19 years old, while they were retrieving the packages.

The recovered consignment contained three packets with 7.75 kg of RDX, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a timer, detonation circuits, remote-detonation equipment, batteries, two Turkish-made Zigana pistols and 867 cartridges. ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar told NDTV that the bombs were ready for use and required the circuits to be connected. A specialised bomb disposal squad was called in to make the devices safe.

Two Punjab Men Suspected Of Terror Links

The arrested men have been reportedly identified as Lakhwinder, from Ferozepur, and his cousin Sukhwinder, from Jalandhar in Punjab. Investigators suspect they were also involved in a grenade attack on the Jalalabad police station in Punjab's Fazilka district on September 13, 2026. The duo allegedly told investigators that a relative identified as RS had instructed them to collect the consignment.

According to investigators, the two had worked at a farm near village 12 KD in Raola for more than a month, posing as agricultural labourers while allegedly monitoring the movements of the Border Security Force (BSF) and other security agencies. Sources told NDTV that they may not have known the intended recipient of the explosives and were allegedly trained to use firearms if required.

• The accused reportedly named three men across the border Umar Chacha, Dungar Chacha and Shah Pathan  with whom they allegedly communicated through social media and conference calls.
• Police have yet to identify RS, who is believed to be based in Punjab and is related to both accused.

NIA Joins Probe Into Suspected Terror Plot

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Rajasthan Police's anti-terror task force have reportedly joined the investigation. Officials are trying to establish whether the explosives and weapons were intended for an attack in Rajasthan or another state. Investigators suspect a wider network in which couriers are kept separate from other operatives, making it harder to trace the entire operation after an arrest.

Security officials suspect the quantity and nature of the recovered material indicate that an attack may have been planned in the near future. However, the intended target, the purpose of the consignment and the extent of the network remain unclear. The accused have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, among other provisions, according to officials.