Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital, Chandigarh were put on ‘high alert’ after 10 armed men attacked the high-security Nabha jail in Punjab early on Sunday and freed a dreaded Sikh militant and five others.
In the wake of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal called a meeting of senior officials including state Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal and a high alert was sounded in Punjab with security around railway stations, airports, inter-state bus terminuses and other places of key importance stepped up.
In neighboring Haryana, State Director General of Prisons Yashpal Singal directed all prison officers and employees to step up security in and around all prisons, besides enhancing surveillance and carrying out comprehensive search campaigns.
He also directed all Superintendents of Jails to conduct meetings at their own level to review security measures in jails and ensure their effective implementation. He also directed them to maintain vigil regarding any kind of suspicious activity in the vicinity of jail in collaboration with the district police.
Haryana Additional Director General of Police (law and Order), Mohd. Akil said that police force in Haryana has been put on high alert and security beefed up at crucial points.
He said that the borders with Patiala and the adjoining borders with Ambala, Kaithal and Jind has been sealed.
Besides, checking is being carried out by putting up nakas. Special teams trained in anti-terrorist activities have been deputed in the state. The police force in both states is working in perfect coordination with each other. The terrorists would be soon traced and action would be initiated against them, he said.
Haryana Police would leave no stone unturned in tracing the terrorists, Akil said, adding that directions had been issued to tighten the security outside all jails in the state.