Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alongside AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, launched a pioneering anti-drone system named ‘Baaz Akh’ (Hawk Eye) in Tarn Taran district on Saturday, aimed at curbing the smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan. The initiative marks Punjab as the first Indian state to deploy its own anti-drone technology along its 553-km border with Pakistan, spanning Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Gurdaspur.

The three vehicle-mounted systems, procured from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) at a cost of approximately ₹5.5 crore each, are designed to detect, track, jam, and neutralize rogue drones within an 8-km range. Deployed as a second line of defense in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), ‘Baaz Akh’ is a critical component of Punjab’s “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” (war against drugs) campaign. “Whenever a drone is spotted, this system will intercept and neutralize it,” Mann stated, emphasizing its role in bolstering border security.

Mann highlighted the escalating threat of cross-border smuggling, with official data revealing a sharp rise in drone seizures: from just 2 in 2019 to 294 in 2024, and 138 in 2025 so far. Since 2022, Punjab Police have recovered 932 kg of heroin, 263 pistols, 14 AK-47s, 66 hand grenades, and nearly 15 kg of RDX dropped via drones. The state has allocated ₹51.41 crore for nine such systems, with six more slated for deployment soon, and additional units to be purchased if needed.

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Kejriwal, addressing the launch, accused previous governments of neglecting the drug menace, which he claimed largely originates from Pakistan via drones. “Our system will spot and destroy any drone crossing the border, ensuring Punjab remains drug-free,” he said, noting the Punjab Police’s aggressive actions, including property demolitions of drug smugglers.

The initiative, tested earlier in Naushehra Dhalla, Tarn Taran, complements other security measures like 5,000 home guards and a ₹150-crore drug census announced in the 2025-26 budget. With Punjab’s layered surveillance in 596 border villages and AI-powered monitoring, the state is fortifying its defenses against narco-terrorism, aiming to restore peace and protect its youth.

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