Amarinder reviews Punjab security with Army, cautions against rumours

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday reviewed security arrangements in the state with with top officials of the Army, the BSF, the ITBP and the Punjab Police and appealed to people in the border areas to be wary of rumours in the current tense situation between India and Pakistan.

The Chief Minister, who had to delay his departure from Chandigarh for the border belt due to inclement weather followed by air space restrictions, said the situation was under control and the armed and paramilitary forces, along with the police and district administrations, were aggressively countering all rumours.

Amarinder Singh said he would go around the border areas in the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Faridkot and Ferozepur over the next two days to instill confidence among people.

He asked the police and security forces to sensitize the people about the situation, in wake of the Indian Air Force air strikes on a militant camp in Pakistan following the February 14 Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir.

The Chief Minister assured all possible help from the state government to the Army to tackle the situation and ensure that the border areas remain stable and secure.

"The state is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality amid the escalating tensions at the LoC," he said.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister about the security measures undertaken at all the sensitive installations, including the Army bases and airports, in the region.

"Adequate steps had also been taken to prepare the civil hospitals to handle any situation, which might arise in the current circumstances," a government spokesperson said.

Before leaving Chandigarh, the Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting of the police and civil administration to take stock of the situation and discuss steps to maintain peace and order in the state, which shares a 553-km-long border with Pakistan.

--IANS

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