Tight security, paramilitary forces seal inter-state border

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, January 6

With an aim to check smuggling of contraband, drugs, arms, alcohol and prevent infiltration, the administration has decided to seal the Punjab-Rajasthan border in Fazilka district ahead of the Assembly elections. Fazilka district shares its boundary with Srigangangar and Hanumangarh districts of the neighbouring Rajasthan.

A meeting of the inter-state border coordination committee was held here under the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, Isha Kalia and District Collector of Sriganganagar Giana Ram.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Fazilka, Narinder Bhargav today said 15 points had been identified along the Punjab-Rajasthan border in Fazilka district. Two companies of paramilitary forces comprising 170 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been deployed to assist Punjab Police guards to plug these sensitive points. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service on rotation along the border to detect smuggling of drugs,” said the SSP.

Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia said the committee would also keep a vigil on liquor outlets operating near the border in Rajasthan. “CCTV cameras have been installed at entry points to check infiltration and smuggling,” said Kalia.

Chandigarh: The paramilitary forces have put up "nakas" at various places in the state. Along with state police officials, the forces are randomly checking vehicles on all national highways. Sources said 50 companies of the CRPF have already arrived in the state.

In the next few days, 200 more companies will be arriving in the state. There are reports that in all, over 850 companies would be deployed. The security personnel would also be put on duty around all polling stations on the day of polling across the state.