Deploy more BSF personnel, says Sukhbir Badal

In the aftermath of the July 27 2015 Gurdaspur seize by terrorists just six months ago, Catch News had done a story on the heady nexus between drug peddlers and terrorists across the border of Punjab. Interacting with the people at the residence of Ikagar Singh who was killed by the terrorists on Thursday night here, the CM said that state government was fully committed to preserve the peace and communal harmony in Punjab and no one would be allowed to disturb it at any cost.

“We want the government to take immediate measures to enhance security along the border with Pakistan, stop infiltration and strengthen police set-up in these areas to prevent such attacks in future”, Ravi Sharma, a local resident and president of the Punjab unit of Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Suraksha Committee, told PTI here.

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Punjab will fortify its second defence line equipped with ultra-modern security gadgets by deploying a commando battalion at all vulnerable points near border in the state. “We will see how we will act as second line of defence, we will have to use CCTVs, laser technology, ground detection system which are internationally-used across borders, specially this area, Gurdaspur and Pathankot… it needs to be done”, he said. Badal also said he would be visiting the place at four in the evening. And for strengthening its borders, the Punjab government will deputy DIG level officer.

He said that trains will also be run for Ajmer Sharif and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

The terrorists who raided Pathankot air base may have entered India assisted by a drugs racket along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border and the heavy arms and ammunition used by them could have been dispatched from the neighbouring country before they crossed the border.

Security forces had yesterday killed one of the at least two terrorists on the second day of the attack in which seven security personnel lost their lives including a Lieutenant Colonel of the NSG.

He also urged the center to declare Punjab-Pak border as sensitive boundary.

It is pertinent to say that Amritsar has attained the standing of heritage metropolis and an quantity of Rs. sixty nine crores has been allotted to protect the monuments, mute testimonials of Punjab’s superb heritage apart from giving facelift to Harminder Sahib’s façade at an outlay of Rs. 211 crore.