1 Pakistani intruder neutralized and 24 apprehended in Punjab sector till July 31 this year: BSF

New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): One Pakistani intruder was neutralised, and 24 were apprehended in the Punjab sector till July 31 this year, informed Border Security Force on Tuesday.

BSF said that during vigilant surveillance of international borders, alert troops of BSF Punjab Frontier successfully thwarted the intrusion attempts of 25 Pakistani nationals between January 1 and July 31, 2024. Of these, one was neutralised, and 24 were apprehended.

“Of the 24 apprehended individuals, 12 were handed over to Punjab Police for further investigation, while the remaining 12 were handed over to Pakistan Rangers, having inadvertently crossed the border,” said a senior BSF officer.

The BSF remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty by securing the borders around the clock.

On August 2, a 45-year-old unarmed intruder was neutralised near the Khora post in the Manguchek area of Jammu after he sneaked into Indian territory from Pakistan’s Tugliyalpur post.

The BSF also said that in recent times, drones have emerged as a significant security threat, increasingly used by malicious actors worldwide for illegal activities. In India, the Punjab border has become a hotspot for the illicit use of drones in smuggling activities.

However, with advanced technology and continually evolving border domination tactics, the Punjab Frontier has made notable progress in countering threats of drones. As of July 31, BSF troops have seized 134 drones, significantly disrupting smuggling operations.

BSF Punjab has also seized 164 kilograms of heroin smuggled from Pakistan into India, approximately 2.14 Crore of drug money and apprehended 46 smugglers as of July 31 this year. Most of these recoveries resulted from the vigilance of BSF personnel during their border duties, while some were made possible by information provided by alert villagers in border areas.

The BSF said it remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty by securing the borders around the clock.