The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state governments of Punjab and Haryana to furnish a status report outlining their actions in response to a list of 75 individuals suspected of drug trafficking provided by the Border Security Force (BSF) to the Punjab Police. Cognizant of a news article revealing this development, the court has included the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as a party in the case, issuing notices and demanding replies.
The BSF, which has seized approximately 755 kg of narcotics in 2023, along with intercepting 95 drones from Pakistan, has urged the detention of suspected drug traders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. The High Court has mandated that the states file status reports detailing their actions based on the BSF’s recommendations.
The court order explicitly directs the State of Punjab to provide a status report on the measures taken following the BSF’s report, while the State of Haryana is required to submit a report on its actions. Additionally, the NCB is instructed to file a status report detailing individuals suffering from drug addiction in Punjab and Haryana and proposing preventive measures to raise awareness about the drug menace.
In a press conference on Monday, the Special DG of BSF Western Command, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, highlighted the BSF’s effort to combat drug trafficking and weapon smuggling via drones from Pakistan. He emphasized the BSF’s deployment of technology to detect drones, having seized 95 drones in 2023. The BSF, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, has created a comprehensive database of suspected drug smugglers in border areas and the hinterland.
Khurania mentioned ongoing efforts to investigate the source of drones, the individuals involved, and preventive measures. The extension of the BSF’s area of operation in Punjab from 15 to 50 km has yielded positive results, and support from the Punjab Police is enhancing the effectiveness of these measures. The BSF and Punjab Police are working together to install CCTV cameras along key roads inside the Indo-Pak border, aiming for their implementation by March 31, 2024.
