STATE TIMES NEWS
PATHANKOT: As Punjab faced second terror strike within six months, its Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday sought deployment of more BSF troops along the border with Pakistan and said the state police will set up a “second line of defence” to prevent such attacks in future.
“We are writing to Government of India that BSF deployment should be increased on par with that of J and K.
“The BSF deployment should be increased at least in this area (Gurdaspur and Pathankot) because this is second or third time such an incident has occurred,” Badal told reporters here.
He said the state police will come out with a “master plan” for second line of defence.
Badal, who held a review meeting with senior police officials in the wake of the terror attack in Pathankot, also said that he has directed the police authorities to get “mapping done of all vulnerable points along the border”.
“If some terrorists manage to sneak from the border into our territory, so we should look at how we can act as a second line of defence.
“I want technology to be used. We will see how we will act as second line of defence, we will have to use CCTVs, laser technology, ground detection system which are internationally-used across borders, specially this area, Gurdaspur and Pathankot… it needs to be done,” he said.
Badal said that he will ask Punjab Police DGP to get in touch with all the experts.
“We have to act as second line of defence. Immediately, we will have new police lines established in Pathankot, one commando batallion will also be set up here so that there is quick response (in the wake of major attacks).
“A special SWAT team will be stationed in Pathankot District so that there is quick response if any eventuality happens in the future so that we can take quick action,” the Deputy CM said.
Asked if there was any security lapse and how the terrorists managed to sneak in, he said “investigations have not yet started as operation is still going on”.
“We have our own views, we were convinced on certain views. Question is not Punjab border or Jammu and Kashmir border (from where terrorists sneak in)”.
