Punjab on high alert after Pahalgam attack; security up at prominent places

The Punjab Government has issued a high security alert in the state, in the wake of the terror attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday. The state has increased the security of individuals at high risk and increased patrolling around their residences, enhanced security around religious places and places of public gathering, besides educational institutions which have students from Jammu and Kashmir.

Advertisement

This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, after a meeting was held to assess the security situation in the state, after the terrorists struck tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. It was also attended by state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, state Intelligence chief and Vigilance chief, besides the DGP.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that after the terror attack last evening, the state government had issued a security alert by first increasing the vigilance at the inter-state boundary with J&K, later taking measures to enhance security and patrolling in the state, especially in public areas having high footfall to maintain a sense of security among the public.

“We are in touch with the J&K Police and all Intelligence agencies on a real-time basis. Pakistan is trying to make India bleed with a thousand cuts. We have given a befitting reply to the terror modules, and we will continue doing the same. We will keep Punjab safe,” he said.

Mann said that Punjab, which has a border of over 530 km with Pakistan, often became the target of their proxy war. “They have been using drones to smuggle currency, weapons and drugs. Our investigations have shown that smugglers and gangsters have joined hands. Since we have tightened the noose around the drug smugglers’ necks, they might try to disrupt peace. The gangsters who are spreading fear are all sitting outside the country and they hire shooters to carry out their nefarious designs. We are capable of dealing with them. Thus we are increasing our security arrangements,” he said.

The Chief Minister also said that his government was in touch with the J&K Government and all efforts were being made to get Punjabis stuck in the Kashmir valley back to the state safely.