Fighter planes at airports to deal with 'balloon menace' in border districts

Jaisalmer: The balloons coming into Jaisalmer and Barmer districts from Pakistan side are becoming a threat to intelligence and security agencies.To deal with this challenge and any expected danger from across the border, special arrangements have been made at Jaisalmer and Barmer air force airports. A fighter plane was deployed at each airport on Saturday.
The radar indicated four balloons coming from across the border, and in this reference, on Saturday at Ramsar area's Gadria village in Barmer, officials recovered around 100-150 balloons from Hyderabad and Rawalpindi areas and these balloons were carrying messages of 'I love you' and a Pak university's name among other things.
Confirming this, Barmer SP Paris Deshmukh said that on Saturday, around 22 kilometres from Pak border at Gadaria village, around 100-150 balloons fell down and in the investigation, it was found that these balloons had come from Pakistan side and there were banners of two feet by four feet size. 'PAKTU', 'ISRA campus annual sports day' and 'I love you' were mentioned on every balloon.
He said that at present, the entire matter is under investigation and prima facie, no objectionable item was found in these balloons. However, continuous arrival of balloons from Pakistan side is becoming a concern for the intelligence and security agencies. These agencies feel that Pakistan, through these balloons, could plan some conspiracy and Indian Air force has started preparations to deal with this new threat.
As per sources, on Saturday at Barmer air force airport, the radar had detected around four balloons at two different times. Looking at growing incidents of balloons coming from across the border, fighter helicopters have been deployed at Jaisalmer and Barmer airports. Sources said that if required, Sukhoi 30 can also be deployed at Jaisalmer airport.
Defence spokesman lieutenant colonel Manish Ojha said the Indian Air force is alert and monitoring the situation closely.