Jammu Tawi, June 3: In a significant upgrade to border management, the Indian Army has deployed X-ray scanning machines and introduced Aadhaar-based digital verification for residents living in villages beyond the border fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The measures aim to curb cross-border smuggling of arms and narcotics while tightening surveillance in the sensitive region.
Sources close with the development said the initiative marks a significant move towards dismantling terror-support networks and curbing smuggling activities in the forward areas.
“The Army in a first-of-its-kind initiative, has installed state-of-the-art X-ray scanning machines and implemented Aadhaar-based entry verification for villagers using the entry-exit gates of settlements located along the LoC in the Poonch sector,” sources told UNI.
Rajouri and Poonch districts, situated along the LoC with Pakistan, notably, have long posed security challenges for the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
According to sources, over 40 villages in Poonch district are located beyond the border fence on the Indian side, requiring residents to cross designated entry-exit points to reach their homes and farmland.
Intelligence inputs suggest that some individuals in these forward villages may have links with Pakistan-based handlers and could be aiding terrorist networks, officials said.
“Intelligence inputs have indicated that some suspicious elements residing in forward villages were allegedly linked to Pakistan-based handlers and were assisting terrorist networks,” the sources said.
To address concerns over weapons and narcotics smuggling, the Army has introduced X-ray baggage scanners and Aadhaar-based digital verification systems at these entry and exit points, they said.
“Earlier, no advanced surveillance mechanism was available on these routes, and security personnel had to rely on manual frisking and physical verification, which was both time-consuming and challenging,” the sources added.
“The X-ray scanners will be used to screen baggage and other belongings under the new system, enabling security agencies to detect suspicious or prohibited items more effectively,” they asserted.
Sources said that the Aadhaar-based system will facilitate instant digital identification of individuals, significantly reducing the need for lengthy manual verification procedures.
They added that the people-centric initiative is expected to strengthen national security while also easing the movement of hundreds of civilians residing beyond the border fence on the Indian side.
“The digital system will save time, improve efficiency, and enhance the accuracy of checks, helping prevent illegal activities near the LoC as earlier villagers for years crossing these gates had to undergo extensive manual frisking and verification,” they said.
“The initiative reflects the Army’s commitment to curbing smuggling, strengthening the security grid, and improving the quality of life for border residents,” an official said.
The Indian Army took the lead in implementing the technology-driven system in the sensitive forward villages of the border districts, they added.
