Chandigarh, November 6: The Punjab government has reinforced its border security grid by integrating modern drone surveillance with community-based vigilance systems, creating what it calls a “second line of defense” along the state’s 553-kilometre-long international border.
Under the initiative, 5,000 Home Guards have been deployed and more than 19,000 Village Defense Committees (VDCs) established across border villages. Officials said these committees include ex-servicemen, teachers, and local youth who assist police in reporting suspicious activity and conducting awareness drives against drug smuggling.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said local participation had become a vital part of Punjab’s border vigilance. “Public involvement has turned into the strongest pillar of our security network,” he said.
The Home Guards have been equipped and trained to assist police and central agencies in surveillance, patrolling, and emergency response. State officials said these measures complement the deployment of anti-drone systems and AI-enabled cameras already functioning in the region.
To support the initiative, the government has earmarked ₹40 crore for border infrastructure—₹20 crore for expanding CCTV networks, ₹10 crore for vehicles, and another ₹10 crore for new checkpoints and construction. The Punjab Police has set up 100 checkpoints at five-kilometre intervals along the border.
Authorities said the layered security system has helped reduce drone-based smuggling, with several infiltration attempts detected or repelled. Mann said Punjab’s integrated model—linking technology, administration, and public participation—is emerging as a template for border management in other states.
