M A I N   N E W S

Security alert on border
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 27
Security alert has been sounded in the entire border belt, comprising Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, following the assassination of Pakistan’s leader Benazir Bhutto.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Sayed Makhdoom Raheen described the incident as “the saddest one”. Sayed said, “We should get united to fight against the merchants of death”.

He was here to attend an international session of the 28th All-India Persian Teachers Conference at Guru Nanak Bhawan at Guru Nanak Dev University here. The conference is being held by the Department of Guru Nanak Studies in collaboration with the All-India Persian Teachers Association. The delegates at the conference expressed anguish over the assassination of Bhutto.

Meanwhile, the BSF and sister intelligence agencies have been put on high alert on the 533-km border with Pakistan. Though the entire Punjab border is fenced, a strict vigil is being kept on the developments. District police chief Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said people of the region need not panic. 

Extra forces deployed in Muslim areas
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 27
Apprehending reaction over the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, the SSP, Sangrur, has deployed extra forces in Muslim-dominated areas here and in adjoining towns and villages. All SDMs of the district in general and Malerkotla in particular have been directed to keep a watch on the situation.