Punjab police, BSF strategise to counter drug supply from across Indo-Pak border

In view of the coming Lok Sabha polls, Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla on Thursday chalked out a strategy with the Border Security Force (BSF) to further strengthen the second line of defence and break the supply chain of drugs from across the border.

He held a joint coordination meeting with BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Atul Fulzele and senior officers of CRPF, ITBP, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central agencies to review security arrangements in the state's border areas and discuss matters pertaining to the parliamentary elections 2024, according to a statement.

Giving a call for greater synergy and teamwork between the BSF and Punjab Police, Shukla exhorted both forces to work as one team to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

He said being positioned at the first line of defence, the BSF needs to be more alert to prevent smuggling and infiltration bids by militants, terrorists or smugglers, the statement said.

He also ordered to increase the number of police personnel deployed on night patrolling along the International border, it added.

The Special DGP advised the BSF to use drone detection technology to counter the suspicious drone operations at Punjab borders, which have over time emerged as the modus operandi to smuggle drugs from across the Indo-Pak border, according to the statement.

He also directed all the district police chiefs of border districts to conduct regular meetings with village level defence committee (VLDC) members and sensitise field staff to keep a strict vigil on the movement of drones.