Security along IB in Punjab below standard: Sukhbir Singh Badal

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Pakistan and Afghanistan were trafficking drugs into Punjab and infiltrators were taking advantage of the “low standard” of security along the international borders (IB) in the state.

“The menace of drug problem in Punjab is not as it is being portrayed. It is a conspiracy to defame the state,” he said during an event here.

“The batch of drugs seized by Punjab Police comes from the other side of the border. It is due to the shortage of personnel deployed to protect the border that such batches (of drugs) are able to infiltrate. These drugs are not for the state but are distributed in the entire country,” he claimed.

He said, “The kind of force required to counter such infiltrations is not deployed along the IB in the state. The standard of force deployed in J-K is much higher than in Punjab. This is the reason such infiltrations succeed in Punjab but fail in J-K,” Sukhbir said.

Speaking about the lax in border security, he said two infiltrators were killed by Punjab Police in Fazilka district but the border security did not even know about it.

Asked if he meant to say that the Border Security Force (BSF) was not working properly, the deputy chief minister said, “I am not naming anyone specific. I only want to point out that the security force along the international border in Punjab is not up to the desired standard.”

He said since the drugs coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan is being seized by Punjab Police, it is “perceived” that the menace is prevalent in Punjab. “This (perception) is only to defame the youths of the state,” he claimed.

Sukhbir also hit out at the media over the drug issue, saying any drug-related incident in the state is blown out of proportion. On the infiltrations, he said the Centre has been apprised about the “shortage” of CCTV cameras, scanning machine and other equipment along the IB which often results in breach of security.

He also said reforms in state police are in the offing.  and policing and research departments would be separated, while a legal officer would be appointed in each police station. 

Earlier in the day, Sukhbir launched the Rural Rapid System enabling beat police service in Jalandhar. He said with the launch, Punjab has become the first state in the country with such facility even in rural areas. Police would respond to Dial 100 in villages also.