Home Guards to form 2nd line of defence at border

Announcing two initiatives to combat the influx of narcotics into the state, the Punjab Government has decided to deploy Home Guards to complement the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border with Pakistan, besides installing advanced anti-drone systems.

“For the first time in Punjab’s history, the state government will establish a second line of defence at the border by deploying 5,000 Home Guards alongside the BSF,” Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, while presenting the state Budget.

He said the state government would deploy the most advanced anti-drone systems available anywhere in the world that could track and neutralise the sophisticated cross-border drones being used to drop drugs and arms in Punjab.

“We have already started piloting cutting-edge technologies and will deploy anti-drone systems along the border. I am allocating Rs 110 crore for these initiatives,” he said. Out of that, Rs 60 has been earmarked for the deployment of Home Guards.

BSF officials, however, have expressed scepticism about the move, pointing out that under the current charter of duties and conditions of engagement, Home Guards lack the requisite training and orientation to undertake border-guarding duties.

“This doesn’t seem to be a viable initiative,” KJS Cheema, a former Inspector General with the BSF said. “On ground, there would be issues of tactics, field-craft and operational procedures as well as inadequate coordination and synergy between the BSF troops and Home Guards during the conduct of operations,” he said.

Cheema said the biggest threat to the progress and prosperity of Punjab was the problem of drugs. “An entire generation of youth is being eaten hollow from within due to drugs,” he remarked.

He said bulk of the drugs entered Punjab from across the border and it was primary the Centre’s responsibility to halt cross-border smuggling of drugs and arms, as 50-km area along the International Border was under the BSF’s jurisdiction.

The BSF is responsible for the peacetime management of the International Border.