High alert over possible terror attacks

The government on Friday issued a country-wide high alert asking states to step up vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to avenge Wednesday night’ surgical strike on their launch pads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) even as home minister Rajnath Singh reviewed security situation along the Indo-Pak border.

In an advisory, the home ministry conveyed to the states that additional forces should be deployed in all sensitive places, strategic installations, markets, religious places and other key places to ensure security, the sources said keeping in mind the upcoming festive season.

Metro cities were particularly asked to be extra vigilant.

States touching the border with Pakistan — Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat — were also directed to remain vigilant. Security agencies were apprehending stepped up action by militants currently operating in Jammu and Kashmir targeting security forces and civilians following the strike by special forces of the Army on about seven terror launch pads.

The Border Security Force, which comes under the home ministry, has already put all its units along the Indo-Pak border on “high alert”.

Orders have been issued to all its units along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat to step up vigil and bolster their numbers at the posts by bringing in all personnel who are in the reserve.

Security was strengthened at vital installations across Punjab and a high alert has been sounded at all airbases across the state while evacuation of people residing in villages along the IB continued.

Mr Singh held an hour-long meeting with the country’s top security and intelligence brass, including national security adviser Ajit Doval and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.