Randhawa criticises Centre, state govt over ‘rising drone smuggling’ in Punjab

Chandigarh: Former Punjab deputy chief minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa criticised both the BJP-led central govt and the Punjab govt over what he described as increasing smuggling of drugs and weapons through drones along the Pakistan border.Randhawa alleged that despite claims by both govts about controlling the situation, conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in Punjab. He said criminal networks operated by gangsters based in Canada, Europe, the US and Pakistan carried out activities such as targeted killings, extortion, kidnappings and robberies in the state.Citing recent incidents, he claimed that from the end of 2025 to the beginning of 2026, over 21 targeted killings were reported in Punjab involving kabaddi players, sarpanches, political workers and other citizens, many of them in border districts. He alleged that these incidents exposed serious lapses by the Border Security Force (BSF), central intelligence agencies and the Punjab Police, adding that the Punjab Police functioned under an ad hoc director general of police for several years.Raising concerns about border security, Randhawa questioned why the Centre did not provide the BSF with advanced anti-drone systems and additional manpower when 272 drones were recovered in 2025 alone, averaging about 24 per month. He said drones continued to be recovered regularly in districts such as Amritsar and Tarn Taran.Referring to official data, he also pointed out that drone smuggling cases increased from 3 in 2021 to 179 in 2024, and asked why the Centre did not treat the Punjab border situation as a national security emergency. He also questioned why strict action was not taken against handlers based in Pakistan and gangsters operating from abroad who allegedly orchestrated crimes in Punjab.Randhawa said Punjab currently ranked among the leading states in the country in cases registered under the NDPS Act. According to official information, 61 foreign-based gangsters remained active under Operation Prahar, allegedly running extortion networks through social media and encrypted communication platforms.He held that Punjab shared a 553-km international border with Pakistan, passing through the districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka. Randhawa said districts within a 50-km radius of the border, including Muktsar and Moga, were among the most affected areas.Calling for urgent action, Randhawa demanded that the Centre and Punjab govt launch coordinated operations using modern technology to tackle cross-border smuggling networks and foreign-based gangsters. He also called for fixing accountability to ensure that people in Punjab could live without fear. MSID:: 129555510 413 |