IB warns of Lashkar attacks along Punjab border

Mangalore Today News Network

Chandigarh, August 15, 2015: Ahead of the 69th Independence Day celebrations, security has been tightened across Punjab, in the border districts particularly, in the wake of a possible terror threat alert sounded by the intelligence agencies.

Ferozepur police and BSF have tightened security in and around Hussainiwala and Harike bridges after the intelligence department issued an alert that the Ladhkar-E-Taiba militants can blow-up the borders located on the international border.

"Security has been tightened on both the bridges after the intelligence input. SWAT,IRB and Commando Batallion commandos are guarding the bridges", SSP Ferozepur, Hardyal Singh Mann said.

Sources said that the intelligence has also warned the state government to beef security at public places, including markets and shopping malls as terrorists can attack these places.

Security has also been tightened in Mohali and Bhatinda where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singhh Badal will hoist flags. Punjab police commandos and sharp shooters have been deployed at all places where Independence Day celebrations are being held.

Police has also alerted the people living on the border areas and have asked them to raise an alarm if they suspect a person or an activity. Announcements to this effect have been made by using the public address systems installed by the local religious places.The police has also established bullet proof piquets in areas located along Indo-Pak border.

Meanwhile Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday appealed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to increase deployment of Border Security Force on the Punjab border with Pakistan on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir to stem infiltration of terrorists.

In his letter to Union Home Minister, Badal said that state government has taken all the necessary actions including deployment of trainees and putting Armed Battalions and office staff on field duties, but vigil at par with J&K border was needed so that Punjab border would not remain a weak link in the internal security and safety of the state.

Quoting the alerts received from central agencies, Deputy CM said that alerts have mentioned that terrorist groups were trying to infiltrate in the Indian territory through the international border in the Gurdaspur sector with the assistance of Pak agencies.

Badal brought in the notice of Union Home Minister that density of deployment of BSF on the international border in the Gurdaspur sector, which was adjoining J&K, has been less than half of that in J&K. He said that situation has been there since the last few months and perhaps this could be one of the reasons for the recent infiltration of the Fidayeen group through the Gurdaspur sector.

Deputy CM suggested that keeping the constraints of manpower in mind, the deployment of BSF could be strengthened in the Gurdaspur sector from Paharpur to Thakurpur on priority basis and as and when more manpower was made available, strengthening of vigil from Thakurpur to Dera Baba Nanak could be done. He said that likewise, further deployment of BSF along rest of Punjab border would fulfill the ultimate objective of bringing required vigil to create tight check over infiltration.

Badal appealed the Union Home Minister to take immediate action in this regard, since, if terrorists or Fidayeen groups did manage to cross the border, any amount of deployment in the state would prove to be insufficient to prevent the random strikes. He said that Punjab had lost its 4 security personnel and 3 civilians in Dinanagar incident whereas more than 17 person were injured.

Describing how serious this infiltration could be, Badal said, “ AK-56 rifles with armour piercing ammunition, grenades and a primed disposable rocket launcher were recovered from the 3 infiltrators who were engaged and killed by the Punjab police. Before their entry into the Dinanagar police station, the infiltrators had planted a series of IEDs on the railway track which could have lead to a major tragedy."

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday