In view of the upcoming Independence Day , police have increased vigil in areas near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, especially those falling in Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts.
In Tarn Taran district, which shares 103-km-long border with the neighbouring country, a huge combing operation is being administered within the fields situated along the barbed fence. Some farmers, who own agriculture land between the barbed fence and therefore the zero line, also are on the radar of the police.
Besides increasing presence at the checkpoints in areas situated near the border, the police also are monitoring the movement of suspicious people closely. Officials believe that drugs and arms smugglers across the border increase their activities before the Independence Day or Republic Day.
Just a fortnight before the Independence Day in 2015, three gunmen wearing army uniform opened fire at a bus then attacked the Dina Nagar police headquarters in Gurdaspur. Similarly, the Pathankot Air Force station was attacked by a gaggle of heavily armed terrorists before the Republic Day in 2016.
“We have made formed several teams for conducting search within the fields situated along the fence. we’ve inputs that the anti-India elements may send arms or drug consignments before Assumption ,” said Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dhruman H Nimbale.
Another police official said, “We also are keeping a strict watch on some farmers whose record is dubious. we’ve also asked the BSF to not allow these farmers to cross the fence. We also are watching the labourers who attend the fields across the fence.”
Nimbale said, “We have found out 24 checkpoints in every area resulting in the border within the district. We also are taking pictures of all suspicious people and their identity proofs. we’ve deployed rapid response teams and commandos to affect any untoward incident.”
In Amritsar district, checkpoints along the border are strengthened. Attari deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Gurpartap Singh Sahota said, “We are keeping a round-the-clock vigil near the border with attention on suspicious people roaming within the area.”
In Pathankot too, search operation is being administered at public places and sensitive points along the border.
On the intervening night of July 30 and 31, the Border private security force (BSF) gunned down two suspected intruders who entered the Indian territory from Pakistan near Khalra village of Bhikhiwind sub-division in Tarn Taran. Similarly, on July 19, the Amritsar police had seized 8 pistols and 270 rounds from a field near Khalra village along the barbed fence.
