Explosives, RDX and weapons seized near Sri Ganganagar border; two arrested
Synopsis
A suspected drone from across the Pakistan border dropped RDX, pistols, and over 650 cartridges into a Rajasthan field on Monday night — and two youths from Punjab were waiting. The Sri Ganganagar seizure, involving remote-control devices and batteries alongside the explosives, points to a planned operation that security agencies are now racing to unravel.
Key Takeaways
Security agencies recovered suspected RDX , two pistols , four magazines , ~650 cartridges , four pairs of batteries , and two remote-control devices from Rawla Mandi , Sri Ganganagar .
The consignment was allegedly dropped by a suspected Pakistani drone at around 10 pm on Monday night.
Joint teams from the BSF , ANTF , and Rawla police conducted the operation following an intelligence input.
Two youths — one from Jalandhar and one from Firozpur , Punjab — have been arrested.
ANTF IG Vikas Kumar confirmed the arrests and said agencies are probing who sent the consignment and its intended purpose.
Search operations are continuing in agricultural fields and along canal banks in the border region.
Security agencies have recovered a consignment of suspected explosives and weapons from the Rawla Mandi area of Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan, near the Pakistan border, in what officials are treating as a serious cross-border smuggling attempt. Two youths from Punjab have been arrested in connection with the case, and search operations are continuing in the surrounding region as of 13 October 2026.
What Was Recovered
The seized material reportedly includes RDX, two pistols, four magazines, approximately 650 cartridges, four pairs of batteries, and two remote-control devices. The exact nature and quantity of the seized material are yet to be officially confirmed. A specialised team has reportedly been called from Jaipur to examine the consignment and establish its precise composition.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to officials, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) received intelligence that three packets had been dropped by a suspected Pakistani drone in a field near a canal at around 10 pm on Monday night, close to Chak 4 KNM W Tail, under Gram Panchayat 12 KND in the Rawla area. The packets were initially suspected to contain narcotics. Acting on the input, joint teams from the Border Security Force (BSF), the ANTF, and Rawla police conducted a search and recovered the suspicious packets, which turned out to contain weapons and explosive material. Two youths were apprehended during the operation.
Who Was Arrested
Preliminary information suggests that one of the arrested youths is from Jalandhar and the other from the Firozpur area of Punjab. Their alleged roles and links to the consignment are under investigation. Investigators are questioning both individuals to establish their alleged connections, identify those behind the consignment, and determine where the weapons and explosives were intended to be delivered.
What Security Agencies Said
ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar confirmed that a large quantity of ammunition and suspected explosives had been dropped in Rajasthan using drones. He stated that security agencies were investigating who had sent the consignment and what its intended purpose was, adding that further details would emerge as the probe progressed.
Search Operations Ongoing
Following the recovery, security agencies have tightened surveillance across the border region. Search operations are underway in agricultural fields, along canal banks, and in nearby areas to determine whether any additional packets or suspicious material were dropped. This incident follows a well-documented pattern of drone-based smuggling across the Rajasthan-Pakistan border, with agencies having flagged an uptick in such attempts in recent months. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.
Point of View
Drops a consignment into a designated field, and local operatives wait to collect it. What is notable this time is the mix — RDX alongside remote-control devices and batteries suggests the payload was not merely for sale but potentially for assembly. The involvement of Punjab youths as alleged ground handlers also echoes patterns seen in Punjab's own drone-drop cases, pointing to a shared cross-state network that agencies have struggled to fully map. The larger question is one of drone-detection infrastructure: repeated successful drops along this frontier suggest gaps in low-altitude radar coverage that political and security leadership will need to address with more than post-hoc search operations.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recovered near the Sri Ganganagar border in Rajasthan?
Security agencies recovered suspected RDX, two pistols, four magazines, approximately 650 cartridges, four pairs of batteries, and two remote-control devices from the Rawla Mandi area of Sri Ganganagar district, near the Pakistan border. The exact composition and quantity are yet to be officially confirmed pending specialist examination.
How did the weapons and explosives reach the Rajasthan border area?
According to preliminary information, the consignment was allegedly dropped by a drone from across the Pakistan border at around 10 pm on Monday night, near a canal field at Chak 4 KNM W Tail in the Rawla area. The ANTF had received advance intelligence about suspicious packets being dropped in the vicinity.
Who has been arrested in connection with the Sri Ganganagar weapons seizure?
Two youths from Punjab have been arrested — one reportedly from Jalandhar and the other from the Firozpur area. Their alleged roles and connections to those behind the consignment are being investigated.
Which agencies conducted the operation?
The operation was a joint effort by the Border Security Force (BSF), the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), and Rawla police, acting on intelligence about suspicious packets dropped near the border. ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar confirmed the arrests and the recovery.
Are further recoveries expected in the area?
Search operations are ongoing in agricultural fields, along canal banks, and in nearby areas to determine whether additional packets were dropped. Agencies have tightened surveillance across the border region and have summoned a specialist team from Jaipur to examine the seized material.
