Chandigarh, April 29
Punjab Police have enhanced its second line of defence against organised and cross-border crime by installing over 2,290 CCTV cameras at 585 locations, covering 41 police stations across the border belt, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
This initiative is part of a technology-driven security grid designed to restrict contraband movement and disrupt organised crime supply chains. While the Border Security Force secures the international boundary, Punjab Police, through its Gangstran Te Vaar campaign, is focused on preventing contraband from moving further inland.
The surveillance network now covers vulnerable villages and transit routes in border districts. Officials stated the system enables real-time monitoring and strengthens ground-level response.
Police checkpoints are now intelligence-driven, focusing on targeted vehicle checks instead of routine inspections. Anti-drone surveillance has also increased in districts with repeated arms and narcotics drop attempts.
Suhail Qasim Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural, said the second line of defense is crucial in breaking the chain of criminal activity.
He said, “The second line of defense is where the chain is effectively broken. While border sealing remains the first line of defense, any breach is swiftly intercepted within our jurisdiction. Our nakas are no longer routine checkpoints; they are intelligence-led, positioned, and operated on the basis of verified inputs.”
He added that village-level defence committees and local networks have been integrated into the security framework for closer monitoring at the grassroots. Infrastructure, surveillance, mobility, and rapid response mechanisms are also being continuously strengthened to deter and quickly disrupt illegal activity.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav stated that strengthening the second line of defense is central to Punjab’s anti-gangster strategy. “We are building depth in our policing. The focus is on dismantling the entire ecosystem, from cross-border supply to last-mile delivery. The second line of defense ensures that even if an attempt is made, it is detected early and neutralized swiftly.”
Officials stated that the expanded surveillance and intelligence-driven policing framework aims to create a stronger security shield across Punjab’s border districts, ensuring faster detection and interception of organized crime and smuggling attempts.
