Punjab to Deploy Home Guards and Anti-Drone Tech to Curb Cross-Border Drug Smuggling

• Mar 26, 2025

In a significant move to combat the rising inflow of narcotics into the state, the Punjab government has announced two new initiatives: the deployment of Home Guards along the International Border with Pakistan and the installation of advanced anti-drone systems.

Presenting the state Budget for 2025–26 on Wednesday, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that, for the first time in Punjab’s history, the state will establish a “second line of defence” by deploying 5,000 Home Guards to support the Border Security Force (BSF).

“The biggest threat to Punjab’s progress and prosperity is the menace of drugs. An entire generation is being hollowed out by this crisis,” Cheema said. He added that a significant portion of drugs entering Punjab originate from across the border, placing the primary responsibility for halting this smuggling on the Union Government.

To strengthen surveillance and response capabilities, Cheema also announced the deployment of some of the world’s most advanced anti-drone systems, which can detect and neutralise high-tech drones used for smuggling drugs and arms into the state. “We have begun piloting cutting-edge technologies and will roll out these systems along the border in the coming year,” he said.

A total of ₹110 crore has been allocated for these initiatives, with ₹60 crore set aside specifically for employing Home Guards.

Home Guards, who are daily-wage volunteers under the home department, assist the police in maintaining law and order and receive basic training in policing, traffic management, emergency protocols, and civil defence. However, the decision to deploy them along the international border has sparked skepticism from security experts.

K.J.S. Cheema, a former Inspector General with the BSF, questioned the viability of the plan. “Home Guards do not have the training or operational orientation required for border duties,” he said. He pointed to likely challenges in tactics, field-craft, and coordination between BSF troops and Home Guards during joint operations.

Despite the concerns, the Punjab government is pressing forward with its anti-drug campaign, aiming to plug cross-border smuggling routes and safeguard the future of its youth.