The recent sighting of a China-made drone near the Border Security Force (BSF) outpost at Durgabari in West Tripura has put security agencies on high alert along the India-Bangladesh border. The drone, equipped with two high-resolution cameras, has been sent to Delhi for forensic examination. Officials confirm it was not a civilian device.
Intelligence agencies warn that drone activity along the border may increase significantly. These drones could be used by rogue elements for surveillance on Indian security positions, facilitating illegal infiltration, cattle and drug smuggling, and counterfeit currency operations.
The development mirrors the trend seen on the Pakistan border initial drone sightings evolved into cross-border drops of weapons and narcotics. Similar concerns now loom over the porous 4,096 km-long India-Bangladesh border.
Adding to the complexity, Bangladesh&rsquo;s military has deployed Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones near the Indian frontier. Though operating within Bangladesh's territory, these armed UAVs have been conducting surveillance missions and have been spotted near sensitive regions like East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya.
The growing presence of both rogue and military drones poses a dual threat. India has responded by deploying counter-drone systems, such as the DRDO-developed D4, which can detect, track, and neutralise UAVs using both jamming and kinetic methods. These systems have primarily been used in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Punjab but may soon be extended to the eastern sector.
Security officials stress the urgency of enhancing counter-drone infrastructure across the eastern border, especially given the evolving geopolitical tensions. Experts believe India must ramp up investment in indigenous counter-UAV technologies, drawing lessons from global hotspots like the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
With drone technology becoming more accessible and increasingly weaponised, securing India's borders against aerial threats is no longer optional; it's a necessity.

Drone Threat Rising on India-Bangladesh Border

Chinese and Turkish drones spark alarm, force tighter surveillance along eastern frontier

Drone Threat Rising on India-Bangladesh Border

Chinese and Turkish drones spark alarm, force tighter surveillance along eastern frontier

August 5, 2025 | 01:21 IST