Massive search operation on Punjab-HP border

AMRITSAR:: Panic struck on the eve of Heart of Asia conference after some unidentified persons were allegedly spotted on the interstate borders of Punjab with Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, sources said BSF shot an intruder near Dheenda Border outpost in Bamiyal sector. However, the information could not be confirmed from BSF officials.
As soon as police received the information of suspects roaming around suspiciously, a joint search operation comprising of around 275 jawans and officials of Punjab, Himachal police and Army was launched.However, no suspicious person was found till the time of filing of this report late on Friday.
Sources said that police received reports of spotting of four to five armed suspicious persons on Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border.
“After receiving the report, we immediately informed the neighbouring HP (Himachal) police and also the Army personnel, following which a joint search operation was carried out,” Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kaushal said.
Intelligence sources informed that police was also investigating the man who claimed to have seen the armed suspects.
Armed terrorists had sneaked into Punjab from Pakistan and stormed Dinanagar police station last year and Pathankot air force base this year in January. There have been several instances in the past when some people claimed to have seen suspicious elements, making police carry out search operations but to no avail.
“This could be a mischief or an optical illusion, but we had to carry out the search operation and sanitise the whole area,” said an intelligence official.