Punjab, which has remained a centre of terror attacks in the recent past, was put on high alert on Monday following intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based terror groups are planning another terror attack in India.
The security was beefed up in and around sensitive places across the State including the railway stations, airports, also that of Chandigarh.
The State was put on alert within a week after a massive door-to-door search operation was conducted in at least 28 hamlets near Pathankot after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs had claimed that some “terrorists were still hiding” in villages close to the “vulnerable” Pathankot airbase.
Pathankot airbase was attacked by heavily-armed terrorists on January 2 this year.
As a part of security measure, warning sign boards containing shoot-at-sight orders have been put up on the airport fencing wall at many places in Mohali. The locals have also been warned of not coming near the airport wall. Besides, the Army authorities have also asked Chandigarh administration to remove illegal encroachments in Jagatpura village which is located close to the airport.
In less than a year’s time, Punjab had witnessed two major terror attacks in July 2015 and January 2016 which were masterminded by the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Six people including three civilians, three Home Guards and one Police Officer lost their lives and 10 civilians and seven security force personnel were injured in the attack which took place in January this year.
Terrorists had attacked Dinanagar police station on July 27, last year, in which three civilians and four policemen, including a superintendent of police were killed and 15 others were injured.