In a significant move to bolster security ahead of the New Year, authorities in Pathankot have deployed substantial additional forces and are aggressively conducting joint mock drills. The operations involve coordination between the Punjab Police, Indian Army, Air Force, and the Border Security Force (BSF) along the sensitive border with Pakistan.
Enhanced Security Deployment in Sensitive Border Zone
Senior Superintendent of Police, Daljinder Singh Dhillon, confirmed the heightened security measures on Thursday. Additional state armoured police and state commandos have been deployed across the region, considering both the festive season and the area's inherent sensitivity. Pathankot shares its boundary not only with Pakistan but also with Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, and Chamba and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Sources indicate that security forces are on high alert to prevent any potential misadventure. While intelligence sources suggested a few individuals were detained for questioning, the police have officially denied these reports.
Aggressive Joint Drills and Extensive Search Operations
SSP Dhillon emphasized that while security measures are routine, the current steps are being pursued with exceptional aggression. Mock drills are being carried out extensively in both urban and rural areas with full cooperation from the army, air force, and BSF.
Echoing this sentiment, Inspector General of the Punjab Frontier, BSF, Atul Fulzele, stated that extensive search operations are underway in areas adjoining the international border with Pakistan. The security posture is a direct response to continuous intelligence inputs about possible disturbances or intrusion attempts from across the border, as revealed by a senior police officer speaking on condition of anonymity.
Historical Context and Regional Coordination
The region's security concerns are deeply rooted in past incidents. Pathankot was the target of a major terror attack on January 2, 2016, when four heavily armed terrorists, suspected to be from Jaish-e-Mohammad, infiltrated the border on December 31, 2015, and attacked the Air Force Base. All four were neutralized after a prolonged operation. Earlier, on July 27, 2015, terrorists attacked the Dinanagar police station in neighbouring Gurdaspur district. In both cases, terrorists are believed to have exploited riverine gaps to infiltrate.
In a display of inter-district coordination, Vijay Kumar Saklani, Superintendent of Police for Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, informed that security measures have been strengthened and search operations are being conducted at Chamba's border with Punjab. The senior anonymous police officer added that while regular searches and mock drills are part of the preparedness, specific operational details cannot be disclosed to the public or media due to security concerns.
