Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government extended jurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) — a joint team of BSF and Special Operation Cell, Punjab police, led by the former, seized a large haul of arms, ammunition, and drugs from Tarn Taran area as a drone reportedly dropped drugs consignments in the Khemkaran sector.
22 pistols, 44 magazines, 100 cartridges of 7.63mm calibre, a kilogram of heroin, and 72 grams of opium were dropped by the drone which has been confiscated by the joint team. According to an Amar Ujala report, the consignment of arms and ammunition, and drugs was found placed in a bag which was recovered from the area in between BoP Uttar and T-Bund point ahead of Border Security Fencing.
Intelligence inputs and swift action of the forces
Sukhminder Singh Mann, AIG of Counter Intelligence, had received intelligence about Pakistan attempting to cause disturbance in its neighbourhood. After which, the counter-intelligence team followed up on the tip and gathered input that a consignment of arms from Pakistan was headed India’s way.
According to sources, the illicit supply of arsenal could have been used to strengthen the Khalistan movement which has gained traction in the garb of fake farmer’s protests.
Pakistan using drones to fuel terrorist and drug activities
Lately, the terrorist state of Pakistan has taken to sending arms, ammunition and drugs to the border state of Punjab through sophisticated military-grade drones. Earlier tiffin bombs have also been dropped by similar drones.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had also expressed concern over the activities of Pakistan engaging in the modern form of espionage and warfare.
Modi government extended border jurisdiction to catch smuggling rackets
Modi government through a gazette notification last week had granted additional power to Border Security Force (BSF) by extending its jurisdiction across three states along the national borders, namely- Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam. The Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that BSF’s jurisdiction will increase from 15 km to 50 km inside the international border to “improve operational efficiency” and “crack down on smuggling rackets”.
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The idea behind shoring up defences of Punjab and West Bengal, in particular, is pretty straightforward. The former is a haven for drug peddlers to move the contraband around meanwhile the latter has seen a mass influx of illegal refugees over the years that have conveniently been legitimized by the Mamata government in exchange for the precious electorate votes, without taking into consideration the strain it puts on the country’s resources.
The BSF officials, at the time of the announcement, had remarked that trans-border crimes will be prevented through the new move. The officials had also added that it will bring uniformity to BSF operations that are conducted in border states. And within a week, a joint operation with the Punjab Police has thwarted a major terror plan, thereby reposing the faith shown by the Modi government.