Punjab, Himachal remain on high alert after Red Fort blast

Amritsar: Police and security agencies have launched massive search and checking operations across the state's frontier districts and border areas of Himachal Pradesh, fearing that those behind the Red Fort blast may attempt to slip through the porous interstate and international borders.Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, commissioner of police, Amritsar, said an extensive security sweep was under way. "We are checking all public places that see heavy footfalls, including bus stands, railway station parking lots, hotels, and some religious sites. Every vehicle entering or leaving the city is being scanned," Bhullar said. In Gurdaspur district, Aditya, senior superintendent of police, confirmed that checking has been intensified at multiple nakas (checkpoints) laid at key entry points, including Gurdaspur city and Dinanagar along with 32 other nakas.

"We have intensified vehicle checks and are monitoring movement towards Pathankot and Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "Teams are also keeping watch on crowded markets and transport hubs.

" He said at the international border, police were patrolling along with the Border Security Force, adding that horse-mounted nakas have also begun in the district. The security along the Himachal Pradesh border has been beefed up.

Vijay Kumar Saklani, superintendent of police (SP), Chamba, said, "We have sealed all entry points from Punjab, such as Tunnu Hatti, and are conducting continuous checks at outposts along the Jammu and Kashmir border, including Sansari Nullah. Night patrolling teams are on the move to intercept any suspicious movement." In neighbouring Kangra district, police have stepped up night checks and patrolling along national highways and border routes.

"All police stations have been alerted to stay vigilant. Any unfamiliar movement or arrival of outsiders is being immediately verified," said Ashok Rattan, SP. The Pathankot district, which shares its borders with Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Chamba and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, has also come under tight security vigil. Security forces are using sniffer dogs, handheld scanners, and drone surveillance in some areas to rule out any infiltration attempts, said an intelligence officer posted in the region. "Whenever there is a terror strike in the capital, the northern border belt becomes the first line of concern. It's a sensitive zone with multiple exit routes. Our objective is to seal every possible gap," he said, adding that as the investigation into the Red Fort blast widens, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh remain on high alert. MSID:: 125274774 413 |