Police installing 2,000 cameras along India-Pakistan border to curb smuggling
The Punjab Police has nearly completed the installation of over 2,000 CCTV cameras along the 553-kilometre western border with Pakistan, reinforcing the state’s second line of defence against cross-border terrorism and smuggling. The project, backed by the central government, was sanctioned with a budget of Rs 40 crore last year and comes amid a surge in grenade attacks in Punjab’s border districts and ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav emphasised the significance of the initiative, stating, “Punjab is the first state in the country to have a second line of defence, which is 5 km behind the International Border. We have identified 702 points where 2,127 CCTV cameras are being installed, including 100 PTZ cameras, 243 ANPR cameras, and 1,700 bullet cameras.”
He further noted that the installations were carried out in consultation with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army, ensuring strategic placement based on their inputs. “These cameras will act as a force multiplier, capturing 24/7 movement even in areas with limited deployment,” he added.
To further bolster border security, Punjab is reinforcing surveillance efforts with the deployment of 500 Border Home Guards, again in coordination with the BSF.
DGP Yadav also revealed plans for procuring anti-drone systems to counter transborder smuggling, stating, “We will be deploying anti-drone systems with due permission from the Government of India and in coordination with the BSF to ensure better surveillance and prevent illicit supplies.”
As part of a broader crackdown on drug smuggling, the Punjab Police has intensified its efforts to dismantle trafficking networks. “We are not just going after small drug peddlers but also the big fish,” Yadav asserted.
He has directed all Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police to personally oversee the mapping of suppliers, using intelligence gathered from interrogation reports, public tips, the ‘Safe Punjab Helpline’, and criminal investigations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
