India to form anti-drone unit for safe border

India’s Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday said that India will establish a “comprehensive” anti-drone unit to protect the country from threats posed by drones, reports indianexpress.

Addressing the 60th Raising Day Parade of the Border Security Force (BSF) as the chief guest in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Shah stated that the problem of drones is set to become more significant in the coming days.

He said that recognising the challenge, a laser-equipped anti-drone gun mount system has been developed through a “whole government approach” involving all border security forces, the Ministry of Defence, DRDO, and various research departments of the Indian government. He noted that 55 per cent of drone intrusions along the International Border with Punjab have been intercepted and neutralised using the system, a significant improvement from around 3 per cent earlier.

“Within a few years, a comprehensive anti-drone unit will be established to protect the country from threats posed by drones,” he said.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Shah said that the Modi government has also introduced a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) for monitoring sensitive areas along the International Border, and that the initial results from the pilot project in Dhubri, Assam, have been “very encouraging”.

After some improvements, the system will be used across the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Efforts have also been made to strengthen border fencing, construct roads on the Indian side of the border, and undertake several other infrastructure projects, the minister said._Agencies.