Highlighting the escalating threat of drone activities from across the border, Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain affirmed on Sunday that individuals involved in retrieving drone-dropped weapons, narcotics, and money would be treated as the nation’s biggest enemies, facing charges of treason and terrorism.
The DGP emphasized that if anyone apprehended while picking up such materials is arrested, they will be subject to legal consequences, including degradation and disincentivization. He stated, “We consider anyone coming to pick up the weapons, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, or money as the biggest enemy of the country, and the accused will be booked for treason and terrorism of the highest level.”
While acknowledging the tight security along the border areas, Swain pointed out attempts from across the border to disrupt peace in the Union Territory. Referring to recent challenges such as tunnels used to push terrorists and weapons, he identified drones as another pressing issue, urging people to play a role in countering this evolving challenge.
Speaking about a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) meeting, Swain underscored the need for a system at the police station and police post-level to respond swiftly to drone movements. He stressed the importance of intelligence gathering and public cooperation, given that conventional air defence systems may not effectively detect drone movements.Swain emphasized that a combination of intelligence, investigation, area domination, and public cooperation is crucial to making the work of those involved in disruptive activities difficult. When questioned about terrorist activities in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, he emphasized the complexity of the situation, highlighting that operational secrecy prevents the disclosure of specific numbers.
The DGP reiterated the importance of planning and strategy to confront these challenges, expressing confidence that the state would not be overwhelmed. He praised the active cooperation of the people in the fight against terrorism and cited instances where civilians played a significant role in apprehending terrorists.