BSF sees unregulated mining on Punjab borders as 'security threat'

CHANDIGARH: The Border Security Force (BSF) has flagged the unregulated mining activity at the international borders in Punjab as a "serious security threat," pointing out that the possibility of dropping contraband, arms/ammunition at these sites by Pakistan drones could not be ruled out.
"The mining/excavation starts before sunrise and goes on till late night, sometimes even the whole night. Presence of hundreds of labourers, whose antecedents have not been verified by the local police, so close to IB is perceived to be a big security hazard. In recent days, there has been many drone incursions from Pakistan, where the possibility of dropping contraband, arms/ammunition at their camp site/vehicles cannot be ruled out, which is causing huge threat to the security of the international border fence," says a report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana high court by the BSF.
The report dated August 1 was submitted by the central government's counsel on behalf of the BSF in response to a case related to illegal mining in Punjab.