Punjab’s border districts up ante against drone flights

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, October 7

The border police districts of Gurdaspur, Batala and Pathankot have upped their ante keeping in view of the increasing regularity of Pakistan propelled Drones being seen near the International Border (IB).

Gurdaspur SSP Nanak Singh confirmed that two drones were sighted on Tuesday night over Dorangla and Kalanaur townships.

In all, BSF sources claimed there were three violations of Indian air space on Tuesday night. Apart from the double drone sighting made in Guraspur police district, one such machine was spotted in the BSF area of responsibility which extends till Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. Before this the last such sighting was made by the BSF on September 18 in Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur police district.

A police officer, preferring anonymity, said that the flights of these machines, which are controlled by the Pakistan officials on their side of the IB, had increased ever since the drone attack on the Jammu Air Force station in June. Two explosions had rocked the high security technical area on the intervening night of June 26 and 27 following which two Air Force personnel had sustained injuries. Police officers claim the central government has instructed all border districts of Punjab to keep a strict vigil.

Many shipments of arms and drugs dropped by Pakistani intelligence agencies have been recovered in the past following combing operations launched by the police and the BSF. “These are done with an intention to destabalise the country,” said an officer.

Tuesday’s intrusions were followed by visits of BSF officers to the affected areas.

SSP Nanak Singh said that regular alerts were issued by the police force to keep and check and subsequently thwart such intrusions.

IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said that the police force was fully active to deal with any sort of a situation. “Sometimes Pakistan sends Drones for reconnaissance purposes and sometimes to drop drugs, arms and ammunition. We are well prepared to handle the situation in both cases,” he said.

SSP Pathankot Surendra Lamba said he had formed Village Defense Committees to ensure better coordination with the police force.

Tuesday’s sightings were the 16th in this calendar year in the Gurdaspur sector.

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