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The Border Security Force (BSF) has given the Punjab Police a list of suspected drug traders in the border areas of Punjab and recommended their detention under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
Disclosing this in Chandigarh at a press conference Monday, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, IPS, Special DG BSF Western Command, said this recommendation was made to the state police a few months ago. “They might be considering the names which we have given. The police shall take a call on the matter after due diligence,” said Khurania.
Under Section 3 of the Act, the Centre and the state governments are empowered to detain people (even foreigners) to prevent them from engaging in illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances if necessary.
Referring to the smuggling of drugs and weapons using drones from Pakistan into Punjab and specific areas of Jammu and Rajasthan, Khurania said the BSF is working on the usage of some special equipment which will be able to detect the presence of such drones while they are in the air.
“In 2023, till now, BSF has seized 95 drones. Most of these seizures are in Punjab, with a few in the Sri Ganganagar area in Rajasthan. Detection of the presence of drones is mostly through visible means by the BSF personnel on the border. Now we are working on technology to detect these drones in the air,” said the Special DG.
He added that drug smuggling is a significant issue in Punjab and some parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. “In recent years, drones have been used in this regard. Technical expertise is also being used. He said that personnel deployed on the ground are also being trained to deal with it, and other law enforcing agencies are also being cooperated with,” he said.
The Special DG added that in the last one year, BSF and other law enforcing agencies, like the state police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), have prepared a database of suspected drug smugglers in border areas and hinterland and done vulnerability mapping of areas where most acts like these happen.
“We have prepared a database of persons involved in drug smuggling, including persons in jail and out on bail in these offences. Our effort has been that we should not only bring these drones down but also investigate with police whom these drones came for, how they came, and who all are involved in it,” said Khurania.
The Special DG said that many people have been interrogated in this aspect and the BSF has had good results. “Earlier, the BSF was only deployed at the border and since it was seen that the drones were going 5-6 km deep. So the BSF is now deployed in the hinterland also, along with state police,” he said.
Commenting on the extension of the area of operation in Punjab from 15 to 50 km, the DG said it has had good results. “Drones have neutralised border fencing to a large extent. We had to protect not only the fence but also the hinterland from drones bringing in drugs. We have had very good results, and we are getting good support from Punjab Police.”
“The BSF is not an investigating agency. Only our area has increased. We can search and seize under some provisions of law. Our rights are limited to arrest and seizure, and then we hand over cases to law enforcement agencies. There is no conflict of interest,” he said.
The Special DG said that the BSF has firmed up plans in coordination with the Punjab Police to put up CCTV cameras 5-6 km inside the Indo-Pak border around key roads and crossroads to monitor the activities of those who come and go on them. He said that by March 31, 2024, many CCTVs will be in place.
“Earlier, large-size drones were being used which brought 3-5 kg payload. In the last three months or so, we have seen small drones being used which carry 400-500 grams payload. This could be because it is cheaper and also because it is more difficult to spot and neutralise such small drones,” he said.
Answering a question about illegal sand mining along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab, Khurania said some incidents had happened earlier, and these were highlighted to district and state administration. “Some steps were taken by the administration, and these have abated,” he said.
Commenting on the statement made recently by a senior government functionary in Pakistan that drones were being used to smuggle contraband, including liquor, from Indian Punjab to Pakistan Punjab, the Special DG said no such instance had come to their notice.
Seizures in 2023
- 95 drones
- 755 kg of narcotic items
- 15 assorted rifles and 38 pistols
- 36 Pakistani nationals held and nine Pakistani intruders killed along the international border/Line of Control
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