Punjab on maximum alert
Vigil tightened at vital installations, patrolling up, vehicle checking intensified
CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA/BATHINDA/ JALANDHAR: Security has been stepped up in Punjab following the Saturday’s terror attack on the Pathankot air force base.
Officials said that in view of the attack, which comes after the terror strike in July last in Dinanagar town in the adjoining Gurdaspur district, a maximum alert has been sounded across the state.
Security at vital installations across the state has been beefed up while police have set up special nakas and intensified checking of vehicles in various cities. Passengers are being frisked at various bus stands and railway stations across the state. Special dog squads have been deployed. Police officials were told to not leave their stations.
In Bathinda, police held a special meeting with officials of key installations such as the thermal power plant, National Fertilizer Limited unit and Guru Gobund Singh refinery to take stock of security arrangements. In Ludhiana, police stationed vehicle-mounted light machine guns (LMG) at entry points of the city. Police also sealed all entry points to the city. Heavy security is in place near Baddowal ammunition depot and Halwara air force station.
Security has been beefed up at all vulnerable points in Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Phagwara. Vigil has been intensified at Adampur air force station. Security was also increased at the Chandigarh air force station which is the biggest transport base of the country. Outside the station, UT Police have put up checkposts. The patrolling has also been increased.
In Mohali, a quick reaction team (QRT) armed with light machine gun (LMG) has been stationed near the entry of the airport while a mobile unit of the QRT, armed with LMG, has been asked to patrol the area round the clock.
An alert has also been sounded in neighbouring Haryana. WILL URGE CENTRE TO SEAL BORDER: SUKHBIR MUKTSAR: Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the terror attack at Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday as unfortunate and said Punjab will urge the Union government to completely seal sensitive spots and increase vigil at the international border in Punjab so as to curb the infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan.
Addressing the media after attending the bhog ceremony of jathedar Kar nail Singh Kolianwali, younger brother of Punjab Agro chairman and member of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive, jathedar Dayal Singh Kolianwali, the deputy chief minister said the security agencies were taking necessary action in the aftermath of Pathankot terror attack and search operations were in progress.
POLICE HAVE SET UP SPECIAL NAKAS AND INTENSIFIED CHECKING OF VEHICLES; SPECIAL DOG SQUADS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED