Ravi Dhaliwal
Gurdaspur/Pathankot, April 12
Governor Banwarilal Purohit today urged the state and central security agencies to work in tandem to ensure that infiltration from across the border becomes a thing of the past even as he exhorted panches and sarpanches of the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur to “act as the eyes and ears” of the BSF.
After holding meetings at Pathankot, he presided over a meeting of sarpanches at the Institute of Hotel Management, Nutrition and Catering on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot road.
He also made a mention of the Pathankot air base attack that took place on January 2, 2016. He said not only the people of Pathankot were taken aback at the terrorist attack, but the entire nation watched in disbelief as four militants took control of the air base.
“Pakistan regularly exports terror. The Pathankot attack corroborates this,” he said.
The Governor’s remarks hold significance as the perpetuators of the Pathankot attack and the one that took place at the Dinanagar police station on July 27, 2015, had made their way from across the border via Bamiyal village in Pathankot district.
Senior officers of the BSF, Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau and National Investigation Agency (NIA) attended the meetings. Pathankot DC Harbir Singh, his Gurdaspur counterpart Mohammad Ishfaq and Surendra Lamba and Harjit Singh, SSPs of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, respectively, were also present on the occasion.
The Governor said the recent drone attacks and incidents of air dropping of arms and ammunition meant that everybody should be vigilante. “The agencies working at the IB need support from the people living in villages located near the IB. That is why I ask sarpanches and panches to act as the second line of defence,” he said.
He also touched upon the issue of drug smuggling from across the border. “In this context, I once again request villagers to regularly provide details to the agencies so that the menace could be nipped in the bud.”
The Governor said the flow of drugs from across the border percolated into cities and subsequently into educational institutions. “Drugs are a direct attack on the future of our youth. The common man and government agencies should work together to check this scourge,” he said.
Need support of villagers
Agencies working at the IB need support from the people living in villages located near the International Border. That is why I ask sarpanches and panches to act as the second line of defence. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor
Security agencies must work in tandem to curb infiltration: Punjab Governor
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