In the wake of high alert following inputs that terror groups from Pakistan may try to infiltrate and carry out attacks in Punjab, the State has sought additional paramilitary forces.
“We have made a request for additional companies of paramilitary forces to be deployed in the State,” said State Police chief (law and Order) HS Dhillon on Tuesday.
Punjab has apparently sought at least 15 additional companies of paramilitary forces for the State.
The development comes at a time when Punjab has heightened vigil following Indian Army’s surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
People living near villages within the radius of 10 km of the Indo-Pak border were asked to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan. It has six districts — Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran, which lie close to the International Border.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, a day before, had opened fire after spotting suspicious movement along the international border on the Chakkri Border Out Post (BOP) in Gurdaspur.