Rajouri LoC: Three mortar shells found and defused near border
Synopsis
Three unexploded mortar shells were found and defused along the LoC in Rajouri on 8 June — the latest reminder that border villages in J&K remain in the blast radius of a conflict that has not fully cooled since Operation Sindoor and Pakistan's retaliatory shelling killed 14 civilians in Poonch alone.
Key Takeaways
Three mortar shells were found at two locations along the LoC in Rajouri on 8 June 2025 and safely defused by army bomb disposal squads.
Two shells were recovered from the Jhanghar forest area ; a third was found in Makri village, Nowshera sector .
A PIA-marked aeroplane-shaped balloon was separately recovered from Dhaki Nala near the International Border in Samba district .
The incidents follow Operation Sindoor , after which Pakistani troops reportedly shelled civilian facilities along the LoC, killing 14 civilians in Poonch district alone.
India subsequently conducted precision strikes on multiple Pakistani defence facilities in response to the escalation.
Police in Jammu & Kashmir's Rajouri district on Monday, 8 June reported the discovery of three unexploded mortar shells along the Line of Control (LoC) at two separate locations, all of which were subsequently defused by army bomb disposal squads. The recoveries underscore the persistent threat to civilian safety in border villages weeks after a major military escalation.
Where the shells were found
According to police, two mortar shells were spotted in the Jhanghar forest area, while a third was discovered abandoned at a secluded spot in Makri village of the Nowshera sector on Monday morning. 'The bomb disposal squad of the army defused all three mortar shells safely,' police stated.
PIA-marked balloon recovered in Samba
In a separate incident the same day, a white and green aeroplane-shaped balloon bearing PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) markings was recovered from Dhaki Nala near the International Border in Samba district. Villagers first noticed the balloon, which was subsequently seized by a local police team. Authorities noted that such balloons frequently drift into Indian territory from across the border and are regularly recovered from villages along the border belt in J&K.
Context: Post-Operation Sindoor escalation
The recoveries come in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces' strike campaign launched to avenge civilian killings by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Pahalgam. Following that operation, Pakistani troops reportedly resorted to indiscriminate mortar shelling of civilian facilities along the LoC. In Poonch district alone, 14 civilians were killed and numerous residential and commercial structures were destroyed. India subsequently carried out precision strikes targeting multiple Pakistani defence facilities.
The ongoing threat to border civilians
Unexploded mortar shells fired from across the LoC have long posed a serious hazard to communities in Rajouri, Poonch, and neighbouring districts. Bomb disposal teams routinely respond to such finds, but each recovery is a reminder of the unresolved danger facing residents of the border belt. Notably, this is not an isolated incident — security forces have conducted multiple such defusal operations in the region in recent weeks.
Authorities have urged residents in border villages to report any suspicious objects immediately and not to approach them. Security operations along the LoC are expected to remain heightened in the near term.
Point of View
But the cumulative picture is anything but routine. Fourteen civilians dead in Poonch, homes destroyed, and now fresh unexploded ordnance turning up in forest areas and village outskirts — this is the lived reality of border communities long after the headline escalation has faded from national attention. The recovery of a PIA-marked balloon in Samba on the same day adds a psychological dimension to the physical threat. What mainstream coverage often misses is the absence of a credible civilian rehabilitation framework for families displaced or bereaved during the post-Operation Sindoor shelling — the ceasefire, if holding, has not translated into safety on the ground.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the mortar shells found in Rajouri on 8 June?
Two mortar shells were found in the Jhanghar forest area and a third was discovered at a secluded location in Makri village of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district, J&K. All three were safely defused by army bomb disposal squads.
What is the significance of unexploded mortar shells along the LoC in J&K?
Unexploded mortar shells along the LoC pose a serious and ongoing threat to civilians living in border villages in districts like Rajouri and Poonch. They are a direct consequence of cross-border shelling and require specialised bomb disposal teams to neutralise safely.
What was the PIA-marked balloon recovered in Samba?
A white and green aeroplane-shaped balloon bearing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) markings was recovered from Dhaki Nala near the International Border in Samba district. Such balloons reportedly drift into Indian territory from across the border and are regularly recovered by local police in J&K's border belt.
How do these recoveries connect to Operation Sindoor?
Following Operation Sindoor — India's strike campaign against Pakistan-backed terrorist infrastructure — Pakistani troops reportedly carried out indiscriminate mortar shelling of civilian areas along the LoC. The resulting unexploded ordnance continues to be found in border areas weeks later, with 14 civilians having been killed in Poonch district during that shelling.
What action did India take after Pakistan's shelling of civilian areas?
According to reports, India carried out precision strikes targeting multiple Pakistani defence facilities in response to the escalation following Operation Sindoor. Security forces along the LoC have maintained heightened operational posture since.
