Terror alert: Security beefed up at Chandigarh airport

Besides Pathankot airbase, the security has also been heightened at Amritsar and Chandigarh airports. Warning sign boards  containing shoot-at-sight orders have been put up on the airport fencing wall at many places in Mohali.

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Shoot at sight order on the wall
Shoot at sight order on the wall.

In Short

  • Security has been beefed up in Punjab.
  • Warning sign boards with shoot-at-sight order around Chandigarh airport.
  • Punjab witnessed two major terror attacks in 2015 and 2016.

Security has been beefed up in and around sensitive places including airports in Punjab on the basis of intelligence inputs that Pakistan based terror groups are planning another terror attack in India.

The security arrangements also come in the wake of Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs report submitted to the Central Government which has also warned that Pathankot is facing another terror threat as the terrorists may be hiding in the villages.

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SECURITY TIGHTENED

Besides Pathankot airbase, the security has also been heightened at Amritsar and Chandigarh airports. Warning sign boards containing shoot-at-sight orders have been put up on the airport fencing wall at many places in Mohali.

Sources said the arrangements were made after a recent meeting on the security issues held between the local administration ,Air Force and Army authorities in Chandigarh. Besides the security , the army authorities have also asked Chandigarh administration to remove the illegal encroachments in Jagatpura village which is located close to the airport.

Locals outside the Mohali airport.

Besides the written warning, the locals have also been told not to come near the airport wall as they will be shot at. Residents of Jagatpura said they were not issued any notice before removing their hutments which were removed hurriedly.

"We have been living here from last 20 years .They neither acquired our land nor offered any compensation. We have been warned that they will shoot us if we go beyond 100 metres," says Naresh Kumar,36, whose cowshed was removed by the authorities.

Like Naresh, Harbans Singh Saini,65, has also been rendered homeless by the administrative action.He also claimed that he has been paying rent to the land owner from last 20 years .Another resident Bhawani Prasad ,70, said he cannot go anywhere along with his cattle as he earns his livelihood from them.

A woman working outside the Mohali airport.

TERROR ATTACKS

Punjab witnessed two major terror attacks in 2015 and 2016 which were masterminded by the Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

Six people including three civilians, three Home Guards and one Police Officer lost their lives and 10 civilians and seven security force personnel were injured in the attack which took place in January this year.

Terrorists had attacked Dina Nagar police station on July 27,2015 in which three civilians and four policemen, including a superintendent of police were killed and 15 others were injured.

Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts were on the radar of the terrorists which were spotted in Pathankot more than two times in 2015.