Punjab to Recruit 5,500 Home Guards to Boost Vigil, Curb Cross-Border Drug Smuggling: CM
Border Wing of Punjab Home Guard to Strengthen Second Line of Defence at Borders
Jawans to Be Deployed in Seven Border Districts to Assist BSF
Chandigarh, April 24, 2025 –
In a bid to strengthen the second line of defence along Punjab’s over 500-km-long international border, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday approved the recruitment of 5,500 jawans in the Border Wing of the Punjab Home Guards.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at his official residence in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Emphasizing the need to fortify Punjab’s border, CM Mann said the additional force would help intercept elements that manage to slip past the Border Security Force (BSF).
The 5,500 jawans will be stationed across the seven border districts to assist the BSF and enhance the overall security architecture of the state. "This second line of defence will serve as a crucial layer of security," said the Chief Minister, adding that the state government will seek the Union Government’s assistance for additional resources.
Mann reiterated that Punjab has the manpower, courage, and competence to execute the initiative, but support from the Centre would help augment these efforts. He affirmed that the Punjab Police is well-equipped, experienced, and fully capable of safeguarding the state against any external or internal threats.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced that more than 400 home guard jawans will also be recruited for roles in the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), and other specialized units. "This move not only strengthens security but also opens job opportunities for the state’s youth," he added.