Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have launched an investigation and strengthened security after a Chinese-made assault rifle scope was recovered near the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters in Jammu, police officials said. While the discovery in itself is startling, what’s even more striking is that it was found by a kid.
The discovery of the Chinese-made weapon attachment in a sensitive area was made by a six-year-old kid nearby a garbage dump, which prompted immediate security checks and involvement of specialised units.
Chinese scope in Jammu: How it was discovered
According to police, the scope was first noticed in Asrarabad area of the Jammu region, where a six-year-old boy was seen playing with it. When questioned, the child’s family told officials that the boy had found the object in a nearby garbage dump. The item was later identified as a telescope that can be mounted on an assault rifle or sniper rifle.
“Jammu (Rural) Police today recovered a telescope (that can be mounted on a weapon) from the Sidhra area. Local Police and parties of SOG are conducting further enquiry into the matter. The public is advised not to panic,” District Police Jammu said on X.
Following the recovery, police initiated search operations in the Sidhra area of Jammu, citing the potential security implications of the find. Senior police officers visited the spot to assess the situation, while teams from the Special Operations Group (SOG) were deployed to assist in the investigation.
Detention in Samba district
In connection with the recovery, a 24-year-old man has been detained in Samba district, news agency PTI reported. A police spokesperson confirmed the recovery, stating, “Jammu (Rural) Police recovered a telescope that can be mounted on a weapon from the Sidhra area.”
Officials have not yet disclosed whether the detained individual is directly linked to the recovered scope.
Separate custody over foreign phone contact
In a separate but related security development, police also took into custody an individual identified as Tanvir Ahmad from Samba district.
According to officials, Ahmad was detained after a ‘Pakistani’ phone number was found on his mobile phone. He is originally from Anantnag district in south Kashmir and is currently residing in Samba. Police said multiple agencies are examining the circumstances surrounding both incidents to determine any possible links or security implications.