Be on alert, secure vulnerable points: Amit Shah to border states

NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asked states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan and Nepal to be on high alert and bolster security at all vulnerable points, particularly vital installations, to beat any exigency including armed retaliation by Pakistan.

At a security review held via video-conferencing with lieutenant governors and chief ministers of border states/UTs like J&K, Ladakh, UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal and a representative of Sikkim govt - where the home secretary, Intelligence Bureau chief and DGs of Border Security Force ( BSF ) and Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF ) were also present - Shah called for seamless coordination among the local administration, armed forces and the central paramilitary forces.

Shah's exhortation followed an assessment by the security establishment that Pakistan, hamstrung by India's decision to focus the precision strikes exclusively on terror camps while ensuring that no civilian and military targets were hit, could target crucial installations. "We don't run terror camps... our installations such as dams, refineries, power plants, particularly those on the western border, could be targeted," a source said.

Many of these installations are protected by CISF, which has already reviewed and upgraded their security plan. Shah asked the LGs/chief ministers to keep the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil defence, Home Guards, NCC etc on standby to deal with any situation. He said efforts should be made to ensure public participation in Wednesday's mock drill through citizens and non-government organisations.

Shah asked states/UTs to keep strict vigil on anti-national propaganda by unwanted elements on social and other media platforms and sought prompt action against them in coordination with central agencies. He said every effort should be made to maintain seamless communication and strengthen security of vulnerable points. Shah cautioned states and UTs to make sure there was no fear-mongering among the public and that rumours were kept in check by timely dissemination of information and spreading awareness.

Meanwhile, Pakistani forces on Wednesday resorted to heavy shelling in sectors like Poonch and Uri, which was strongly retaliated by Indian forces. There are reports of casualties on both sides, though an official confirmation is awaited. Sources in BSF, which guards the international border and parts of the LoC in J&K with the Army, said the leaves of BSF personnel deployed on the western border has been cancelled. "As the personnel rejoin duty on the IB/LoC, the force deployment levels will be enhanced by almost 25%. All our resources, including surveillance equipment, have been pulled together and deployed across J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat borders," an officer told TOI.