Punjab tops in cross-border drone sightings, drug recovery

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, January 25

The International Border in Punjab remains the most vulnerable stretch along the entire western front with Pakistan, with the highest number of drone sightings, apprehensions of intruders and recovery of arms and narcotics in 2021 being reported in this sector.

Of the 100-odd drone sightings reported by the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2021, as many as 67 have been in Punjab Frontier, followed by 24 in Jammu Frontier and six in Rajasthan Frontier, according to BSF sources. Gujarat Frontier and Kashmir Frontier reported two and one sighting, respectively.

A senior BSF officer revealed that last year, there were 62 incidents where enemy drones operating in the vicinity of the border were fired upon by BSF personnel. These included 43 in the area of Punjab Frontier and 17 in Jammu Frontier, followed by two in Rajasthan Frontier.

BSF data also showed there have been 58 incidents of hostile drones crossing over into the Indian territory, out of which 45 were in Punjab alone. There have also been instances of drones being recovered after being shot down by the BSF.

BSF officers said the use of drones by adversaries as well as criminals in the border belt has increased over the past two years, posing new challenges. Extensive use of drones is being made by adversaries for surveillance of border areas and intelligence gathering. Similarly, this technology is being used by criminals indulging in smuggling of drugs, arms and other contraband items from Pakistan into India.

India, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, shares 3,323 km of its land border with Pakistan along the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab as well as the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

While BSF is responsible for the peace time management of the border from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Akhnoor in Jammu, some of its battalions are also co-deployed with the Army along the Line of Control up to Kargil in Kashmir and Ladakh sectors.

The length of the border with Pakistan in Punjab is around 553 km, comprising Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tara Taran and Ferozepur districts. While most of this border is fenced and flood-lit, riverine stretches along the course of the Ravi and Sutlej are vulnerable and difficult to guard. This came into focus during the recent terror attacks in Gurdaspur and Pathankot.

Punjab also topped in the number of arms being recovered. The BSF seized 54 weapons, including AK series rifles and pistols along with 3,322 rounds of ammunition in the area of responsibility of Punjab Frontier, followed by 17 weapons and 1,170 rounds in Jammu Frontier. No weapons were seized in Gujarat and Rajasthan frontiers.

As far as narcotics are concerned, BSF data shows around 80 per cent of seizure along the western border in 2021 was in Punjab. Out of the total of 599.220 kg of heroin seized, 485.165 kg was in Punjab, followed by 57.670 kg in Rajasthan and 37.935 kg in Jammu.

Last year, the BSF apprehended 38 Pakistan nationals, including criminals and inadvertent crossers, out of whom 28 were in Punjab. Four Pakistan nationals were held in Rajasthan and three each in Jammu and Gujarat. In addition, six intruders were shot by the BSF in Punjab and Jammu, two in Rajasthan and one in Kashmir.

67 intrusions in 2021

• In 2021, BSF reported 67 drone sightings in Punjab Frontier, 24 in Jammu Frontier and six in Rajasthan Frontier
• Drones were fired upon in 43 cases in Punjab Frontier, 17 in Jammu Frontier, and two in Rajasthan Frontier
• BSF seized 54 weapons and 3,322 rounds of ammo in Punjab Frontier. Also, 80% of narcotics seizure along western border was in Punjab