Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann urges for drone jammer systems on state’s 552-km long border along Pakistan

New Delhi, January 13

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged for an urgent need for installing more drone jammer systems on state’s 552-km long border along Pakistan, saying that 80% of the stretch is not covered by any such technology.

The 552 km of the international border shared with Pakistan is porous and is marked by a fencing gap of around 43 km and riverine gap of 35 km. 

CM Mann said, "Punjab’s location along the notorious ‘Golden Crescent’ drug route makes it a key transit point for narcotics and other contraband. Due to increased vigil and border fencing, drug trafficking is now mostly done through drones, which are hard to catch,” Mann said.

He said that in the last five years, 1,247 drone sightings have been reported and only 417 of them have been captured. At present, there are only 12 jamming systems operational along 552 km of the international border, he said, asking for at least 50 more such systems for effecting interception.

These cater to only 1/5 of the border stretch while the 4/5 of the entire border stretch is without the jamming system, he further stated.  

Mann sought a one-time financial assistance of Rs 600 crore from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to set up special NDPS courts for faster disposal of drug cases.