Punjab Okays Anti-Drone Systems to Fight Weapon, Drug Smuggling

Nine systems to be positioned along the Pak border from Pathankot to Abohar, says CM Mann

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Amid escalating cross-border tensions, the Punjab cabinet on Friday gave a nod for the purchase of anti-drone systems at a cost of ₹51.41 crore to check the smuggling of weapons and drugs via drones from across the border.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann here.

Mann, who addressed a press conference after the meeting, said nine anti-drone systems would be deployed along the 532-km border with Pakistan, from Pathankot to Abohar.

"The BSF has already got some anti-drone systems," said the chief minister, who did not take questions.

A spokesperson of the chief minister's office later said that these systems would help in checking the smuggling of drugs and weapons along the border through the drones.

"Punjab shares a long international border with Pakistan, which is used to smuggle drugs from Afghanistan, a major heroin producer, and the fencing along the border has been breached with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones," the spokesperson said.