Daijiworld Media Network - Tarn Taran
Tarn Taran, Aug 9: In a landmark move to combat cross-border drug trafficking, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal jointly flagged off ‘Baaj Akh’, India’s first state-initiated anti-drone system aimed at intercepting narcotics-laden drones from Pakistan.
At the launch, Kejriwal said this marked a new chapter in Punjab’s ongoing battle against the drug menace, accusing past regimes of turning a blind eye to the crisis due to their alleged ties with smugglers. In contrast, he said the current AAP-led government has launched a zero-tolerance campaign, arresting major traffickers and demolishing assets acquired through drug money.
“Drugs have long been entering Punjab via drones from across the border. This system is a direct response to that threat,” Kejriwal told reporters, adding that while three anti-drone units are now operational, six more will be deployed soon.
Chief Minister Mann emphasized that the state is setting up nine anti-drone units along Punjab’s 553-km-long border with Pakistan, considered one of the most vulnerable narcotics corridors in the country. A total of ?51.4 crore is being invested in the project.
He noted that while national agencies like the Border Security Force (BSF) and armed forces have long used similar systems, Punjab is the first Indian state to independently deploy anti-drone units on its international border.
Mann called this a critical step in Punjab’s larger “Yudh Nasheyan Virud” (War Against Drugs) campaign. He warned that anti-national elements are using advanced technology to push drugs and weapons, and the state is now equally equipped to counter them.
Officials say the ‘Baaj Akh’ system is capable of detecting, jamming, and neutralizing drones used for smuggling, helping disrupt the operations of trans-border syndicates.
The launch of the system signals a significant escalation in Punjab’s crackdown on drugs, with both Mann and Kejriwal asserting their intent to "hit the supply chain at its roots."