Bracing for retaliation

Bracing for a retaliation from Pakistan following the surgical strikes, India on Thursday put security forces on extra alert along the Indo-Pak border and started evacuation of people residing in villages within 10 km of the border.

Official sources said the BSF has been asked to plug all loopholes on the International Border in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and bolster their numbers at the posts by bringing in all personnel who are in the reserve.

All civilian movement along borders with Pakistan has also been restricted, while all units are conducting extra patrolling along the border. The sources said precaution has been taken to avoid any problem for the civilians. Schools in the radius of 10 km in the border districts have been asked to close down for a few days.

The BSF has been asked by the Centre to provide manpower to local administration for helping in evacuating people from border villages to safer locations.

High alert
It has also been asked to increase the number of personnel and officers who work under the operational command of the army on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The security establishment is not ruling out a retaliatory attack by Pakistan. However, sources said, the forces are prepared to thwart “any adventure” by the Pakistani side.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the surgical strike and the need for relocating people from border villages. Singh also offered full support from the security forces for the states in the evacuation of people.