After facing two major terror strikes in less than a year, the Punjab Police have now permanently stationed an SP-rank official in Pathankot district to coordinate with other security agencies operational at the frontier. The aim is to strengthen the intelligence network and ensure proper coordination to keep the suicide squads, originating from Pakistani soil, out of Punjab.
Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal told TOI on Thursday that SP (operation) Hem Pushp Sharma has been stationed at Narot Jaimal Singh. “He will coordinate will the Border Security Force (BSF), the Army, intelligence agencies and share inputs to frame a security strategy and prevent any temerarious attempt from across the border,” he said.
The fidayeens who had attacked Dinanagar police station in July 2015 and the Pathankot Air Force station in January had reportedly crossed the Indo-Pak border from Bamiyal sector.
A three-tier round-the-clock security arrangement has been made comprising BSF, the Army and state police to keep a check on unidentified persons. Intelligence sources informed that their informers had also been activated to monitor any suspicious movement in border villages.
The SSP said that there will be joint meetings of the security agencies. “Besides, we have also made a group comprising of police chiefs of Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) and Chamba and Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) on social media for quick dissemination of information,” said SSP Kaushal.
In the adjoining Gurdaspur district, similar security measures have been put in place after the two terror attacks. Gurdaspur SSP Jagdish Singh Hundal said the number and strength of nakas (checkposts) had also been increased. “Besides we are also conducting surprise raids to check the alertness of our force,” he said.