Security beefed up after terror alert in Pathankot

Security was strengthened in Pathankot and Gurdaspur especially Batala town with police along with Army and BSF conducting massive checking operation, police said on Saturday. 

Terrorists who had sneaked from across the border had attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2 while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted on July 27 last year. 

“Security agencies intercepted a call from Pakistan on Friday evening in which callers were heard commenting on the movement of suspects in a truck to Pathankot or Dinanagar in (Gurdaspur),” police said. 

After receiving the input, Punjab police conducted massive search operations on Friday night comprising 400 security personnel including Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) and BSF personnel. 

“We are not taking any chances. Security has been tightened in the border areas of Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Batala,” said a police officer posted in Gurdaspur on Saturday. Vehicles going towards and coming from Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh are being checked thoroughly. Tight vigil is being kept near Indo-Pak borders areas, police said. The Pathankot attack had claimed the lives of seven security personnel while four terrorists were killed. 

Three heavily-armed terrorists wearing army fatigues, had stormed a police station in Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district last year killing seven persons, including a Superintendent of Police, before they were gunned down during a day-long operation.