After Pahalgam horror, Punjab beefs up patrolling & deployment; CM Bhagwant Mann chairs meeting with DGP Gaurav Yadav

Chandigarh: In the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Punjab Police on Wednesday beefed up security around educational institutes which have students from Jammu and Kashmir.
The action came on a day Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann held a meeting with the top brass of Punjab Police and civil administration, including director general of police Gaurav Yadav and chief secretary K A P Sinha, on Wednesday to beef up the security at vulnerable places.
After the meeting, the CM and DGP addressed a press conference to detail the security measures.
Describing the terrorist attack on tourists as barbaric and inhuman, Mann said, "Terror has no religion. No religion allows to open fire on unarmed persons. No religion allows that you shoot a man dead in front of his wife."
He said the Pahalgam incident had once again proven that terrorists did not have any religion and their sole aim was to spread terror amongst the masses.
Referring to the dark days of terrorism in Punjab, he said "dudh da jalya lassi vi phook ke peenda hai" (a burnt child dreads the fire). Mann added Punjab was prepared to meet any challenge and no one will be allowed to disturb its hard-earned peace.
DGP Yadav told reporters that an alert had been sounded across Punjab on the directions of Mann. "Intensified checking is going on at vulnerable points especially along the inter-state and inter-district boundaries. There is hardening of security around high-risk individuals, including increased patrolling in and around their places of residence and enhanced access control measures. There has been enhanced patrolling near religious places, political gatherings, transport hubs and high footfall public and tourist areas where the police deployment is there to maintain a sense of confidence. Intelligence coordination and surveillance of anti-national elements has been strengthened. We are in touch with intelligence and border-guarding agencies concerned. We have issued instruction to ensure maximum visibility of uniformed personnel in sensitive zones to instil public confidence. We are in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the central authorities. A close watch is being kept on the situation," said the DGP.
The DGP added police deployment had been strengthened at educational institutes with a sizeable population of students from Jammu and Kashmir.
There are 160 institutes in Punjab where students from Kashmir are studying.
"Maximum numbers of students from Jammu & Kashmir study in Punjab, in institutes located in districts up to Sangrur, and they live in college hostels. We have also got in touch with their students' association to assure them that the state govt was there to assist them all the time," CM Mann said.
He said Punjab govt was in touch with Jammu and Kashmir govt to bring back tourists from Punjab safely. He also said that due to the proactive and sustainable vigil of Punjab Police, conspiracies of such forces had been foiled.
STEPS TAKEN IN PUNJAB
Intensified checking at vulnerable points, especially along the inter-state and inter-district boundaries
Hardening of security around high-risk individuals, including increased patrolling in and around their places of residence, and enhanced access control measures
Enhanced patrolling near religious places, political gatherings, transport hubs and high footfall public and tourist areas where the police deployment is there to maintain a sense of confidence
Intelligence coordination and surveillance of anti-national elements has been strengthened. Police in touch with intelligence and border-guarding agencies concerned, says DGP