In the face of increased drone activity and the smuggling of weapons and narcotics, Punjab has emerged as a leader in dealing with the rogue drone menace, surpassing Jammu and Kashmir.
Prompted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, senior officers from the J-K security grid recently visited Amritsar to study the mechanisms employed by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Army in combating rogue drones there.
The meeting, held in mid-April, saw the participation of top officials from J&K’s security grid. Sources told India Today that top officials of the home ministry praised Punjab’s efforts.
Addressing a crowd at the Rustamji Memorial Lecture at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, the Director General (DG) of the BSF, Sujoy Lal Thaosen, highlighted the organisation’s proactive policy on drones. Over the past year, the BSF has successfully downed 33 rogue drones. DG Thaosen said the BSF has adopted advanced technology for operational purposes.
“On both eastern and western borders, several arrests were made and contraband items were seized. We are prepared for any challenge,” he said. Available data reveals that, based on specific intelligence, the Jammu region intercepted 32 drones and downed four of them last year. In stark contrast, Punjab has achieved significantly better results, downing four drones within just two days.
The majority of the downed drones originate from Punjab. In 2022, a total of 22 drones were downed in Punjab and J&K, while 17 have been taken down this year alone. Sources attribute Punjab’s success to a multifaceted approach, including the deployment of experimental anti-drone devices, the expertise of senior officers, and enhanced coordination with the Punjab Police.
Punjab’s achievements come just three months after Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s visit to the border areas, aimed at improving coordination between the state and central agencies to tackle the threat posed by drones used for smuggling arms, ammunition, and drugs from Pakistan.
In a recent high-level coordination meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, jointly chaired by Special Director General of Police (DGP) Arpit Shukla and BSF’s Punjab Frontier Inspector General (IG) Dr Atul Fulzele, plans were laid out to address the issue.
The meeting included the participation of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Border Range Amritsar and Ferozepur Narinder Bhargaw, Ranjit Singh, and senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from seven border districts. Furthermore, DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav issued instructions stating that any person providing information leading to the recovery of drones, weapons, or narcotics would be awarded a reward of Rs 1 lakh.
In addition, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has recently sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations in border villages to maintain strict vigilance over the movement of drones and cross-border smugglers.
A senior officer in the security grid stressed on the support received from the local population, stating, “People are coming forward to support the BSF and police, which has led to the recovery of these consignments.”
Officials from J&K concurred that Punjab’s approach is not solely based on technology. Another senior officer said, “They (Punjab) have more experienced and hands-on officers stationed at the International Border, which is making a significant difference.” Sources said that while the technology used is similar in both regions, the use of personnel is what makes all the difference.
