Drones pose a challenge for cops
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 29
The movements of drones used by anti-national forces across the border fence has been a challenge not only for the Border Security Force (BSF) but also for the Punjab Police.
* Rural police hold liaison with BSF officials
* CCTV cameras to be installed along border villages
Pakistan-based smugglers are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for droppings drugs and weapons on this side of the border, which were being used further by the operatives of banned organisations to create law and order problems in Punjab as well as other parts of the country.
Recently, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) has also confiscated as many as 48 foreign made weapons that were suspected to be smuggled with the help of drones.
During a high-level meeting of DGP Punjab Police Dinkar Gupta with senior police officials of the border districts as well as of the BSF here on Monday, he has asked the officials to identify vulnerable points, where infrared CCTV cameras could be installed to check the movement of smugglers towards the border.
Nevertheless, the BSF and the Punjab Police have to face topographical challenges to restrict the movement of drugs and arms traffickers.
A senior police official with the rural police said though CCTV cameras were installed at a majority of points, smugglers use different routes to reach near the international border for retrieving the consignments. Sometimes, they go through the fields by hiding inside the standing crops.
Gulneet Singh Khuranna, SSP Amritsar Rural, said though CCTV cameras have been installed, the DGP has directed to install CCTV cameras along the border villages. We have held a liaison meeting with the BSF authorities in this connection.
“A detailed report would be made and forwarded to top authorities for further necessary action and installation of infrared cameras,” he said.
Dhruman H Nimbale, SSP Tarn Taran, said there has been no drone movement at the border falling in the Tarn Taran district in the recent past. He said the police have already set up night nakas and installed CCTVs on the bridges on Upper Bari Doab Canal that leads to the border. This has restricted the movement of smugglers resulting in the decline in the movement of UAVs.
