In Tarn Taran, CCTVs, nakas to check cross-border smuggling

PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 11

Now CCTV cameras will keep a watch on the illegal activities of cross-border smugglers, involved in sneaking arms and ammunition and narcotics from the Pakistan side into the border belt of Tarn Taran district. The step is being taken as part of strengthening the second line of defence in view of enhanced activities of anti-national forces across the Indo-Pakistan border.

Under the Rs 10-lakh project, as many as 44 high definition cameras would be installed at 22 bridges which were main entry and exit points towards the international border in the Tarn Taran belt. These cameras would be helpful in checking the movements of nefarious elements even in the night.

Besides, permanent nakas were also set up at these bridges in the last one month. Earlier, there were just seven permanent nakas on these bridges. Now every bridge has a permanent naka taking number to 22. These bridges are the only way to reach to the international border.

“A company each of the Punjab Armed Police and the district police has been deputed at these checkpoints and we have asked for more companies from the headquarters to be deputed at these points,” said Tarn Taran SSP Dhruman Nimbale. Talking to The Tribune, he said investigation in the past smuggling incidents revealed that these attempts mainly occurred in the night. Therefore, at present the policemen are deputed at these permanent checkpoints from 7pm to 7am. “Once we get more force from the headquarters, these permanent nakas would work round the clock,” he said.

In addition, two mobile swat teams consisting of commandoes would also patrol the area round the clock. A swat team patrols the area from Sarai Amanat Khan to Khalra covering around 53 km of area while the second team will be patrolling in Valtoha, Khemkaran, Patti and Bhikhiwind belt.

Earlier, Tarn Taran police had prepared a list of farmers having their lands across the barbed fence located near the Indo-Pakistan border and their antecedents were being ascertained. The police were also checking the credentials of labourers who go across the fence for farming.

“A large number of farmers and labourers go across the fence for limited time to work in their agricultural land. Some of them collude with Pakistan-based smugglers to sneak in the contraband and arms as investigation in previous cases have revealed,” said Nimbale.