Drone activities on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab become a challenge for security agencies

There has been an increase in the cases of smuggling of drugs and arms by drones this year along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. More than 150 activities have been caught in the state so far this year. The increasing activities of drones have put the security agencies in jeopardy. Drone movement remains a challenge for security agencies.

A senior BSF official said that the use of drones for smuggling of narcotics, arms and ammunition had first surfaced in Punjab in 2019. The Border Security Force is guarding a 553-km stretch of the border with Pakistan. BSF has shot down 10 drones this year (three in the last week). In addition, it has thwarted the intrusion of several unmanned aerial vehicles.

A senior BSF (Punjab Frontier) official said, "So far more than 150 drone activities have been observed." While one drone was shot down near Shahpur border post in Amritsar on October 14, two were downed in Amritsar sector on October 16 and 17, officials said.

Officials said sophisticated and high-end Chinese drones were being used by smugglers backed by Pakistan's spy agency ISI. They are capable of flying at minimum sound and high level. One of the drones that was shot down on October 14 was a quadcopter (DJI Matrix) and a holding and releasing mechanism was also found with this drone.

Officials said most of the drone activities are concentrated in the areas along the international border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. However, drone activities have also been observed in Ferozepur and Gurdaspur areas. A senior BSF official said the BSF had coordinated with the Punjab Police in busting a gang involved in cross-border smuggling of narcotics and arms in Tarn Taran area this year.

Check Latest News Live on The National Bulletin (TNB) and get news updates from India and around the world