Punjab put its six border districts on high alert on Tuesday as tensions rose between India and Pakistan over Indian Air Force’s air strikes across the Line of Control, days after a militant attack killed 40 paramilitary troopers in Pulwama on February 14.
At a meeting to review security on Tuesday, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered security agencies to ensure its citizens were kept safe in case of an emergency.
"The meeting arrived at the conclusion that there was no need to panic and decided against evacuating the border areas,"an official spokesperson said. "However, six districts—Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka—were put on high alert."
Singh will visit border districts on Tuesday, the official spokesperson said.
We’re absolutely ready for any eventuality. I’ve also told @HMOIndia @rajnathsingh that Punjab is prepared to do whatever may be needed in the service of the country. I will be visiting the border areas for an on-ground assessment of the situation in the wake of #IAFStrikes. pic.twitter.com/BsOUCUvzxh
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 26, 2019
Several high-ranking bureaucrats and police officers—including Chief Minister’s Chief Personal Secretary Suresh Kumar, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, Home Secretary NS Kalsi, DGP Dinkar Gupta and DGP Intelligence VK Bhanwara—of the state attended the meeting.
Officials have been asked to keep a close watch on developments. The state government was in touch with the union home and defence ministries.
“The government was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality,” Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Raveen Thukral said.
Great job by the #IndianAirForce. The #IAFStrikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it’s harbouring - don’t think you can get away with acts like the #PulwamaAttack. Bravo to the #IAF men and my full support for the action.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 26, 2019
Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner meanwhile held an emergency meeting with the Indian Army and the Border Security Force at the Tibri Cantonment. Gurdaspur Civil Hospital has asked its doctors and para medical staff to remain on standby. There’s heavy security deployment around Patgankot ammunition dump and Air Force station.
The chief minister, who spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about Tuesday’s development, said in a tweet that he stood by the IAF’s actions.
“Great job by the #IndianAirForce. The #IAFStrikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it’s harbouring - don’t think you can get away with acts like the #PulwamaAttack. Bravo to the #IAF men and my full support for the action,” he wrote.
The chief minister had said after the deadly suicide attack at Pulwama that he would support any “retaliatory measure” the central government decided to take.
“They have killed 41, we should kill 82 of theirs,” he had said, without mincing words. And an emotional Singh had also said that if Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan could not arrest the Jaish chief who was operating from Pakistan’s soil, “we will do it for him.”
We are on top of the situation in wake of the #IndianAirForce #airstrike. Discussed all eventualities with top civil & police officials. We’ve put the border areas on high alert & I’ll visit the area tomorrow for an on-ground assessment. I appeal to the people to remain calm. pic.twitter.com/RgM0SpGowv
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 26, 2019
Punjab Police deployed commandos around Ludhiana’s Halwara Air Base after the state government sounded the alert. Punjab Police will patrol the air base around the clock. Police have issued instructions to ensure that there are no traffic snarls outside the air force station. Special police check posts have been installed air base.
Forty Punjab Police commandos deployed around Bhisiana airbase in Bathinda. Security around the city’s refinery, railway station, army cantonment and oil depots have also been intensified. Senior police officials held a meeting with the Air Force on Tuesday morning to discuss security arrangements.
Being strategically located Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is already classified as a hypersensitive airport.
Central government confirmed that the Indian Air Force had struck three militant camps on Pakistan’s soil in airstrikes early on Tuesday morning. Although there are no official figures of the number of people killed, sources have put it at over 300.
India claims it acted on intelligence reports that said that there could be more militant attacks in the country.
A suicide attack in Pulwama killed 40 troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on February 14. The Jaish-e-Mohammed