Chandigarh: The Government of Punjab, on Tuesday, organised trials for anti-drone technology that it plans to acquire to check the movement of narcotics and weapons from across the border with Pakistan. Several companies participated in the trials organised at Mohali. Several ministers, technocrats, and senior officials of the Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) were present during the trials.
In the first 10 months of 2024, the BSF intercepted 183 drones that were flying into India from Pakistan. During the same period in 2023, only 107 of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were intercepted. These drones are used to send in narcotics such as heroin, small arms and ammunition.
“We have to do something to stop the movement of narcotics and weapons from across the border. This is creating a major law-and-order crisis in the state. These trials are being carefully watched by our technical experts of the committee, headed by the state director general of police. Once there is further shortlisting, negotiations will start with the companies to work out the best deal,” a state government official said.
The systems displayed during the day have the capability of tracking incoming UAVs and then destroying them midair, before they can fall into the hands of smugglers on the Indian side. The systems can operate in 10 km, 6 km and 4 km radii, the official said.
“Though it is the responsibility of the Centre and the BSF to check such movement from across the border, the Punjab Police is the second line of defence and has to take steps if some of the drones get through. The BSF has extended its limits to 50 km but have not got full success in curbing this threat. The weapons and narcotics are destroying the whole environment in the state,” minister Aman Arora said.
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