Chandigarh, April 23-
Condemning the unfortunate incident of terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir), the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said that state is on high vigil and is according top priority to maintain law and order in Punjab.
Interacting with the media persons after a high level meeting with officers of Civil and Police administration, the Chief Minister said that this terrorist attack on innocent tourists is a barbaric and inhuman act. He said that this incident has once again proved that the terrorists do not have any religion and their sole aim was to spread terror amongst the masses. Meanwhile, reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they were fully ready to meet any sort of challenge and no one will be allowed to disturb hard earned peace in the state.
The Chief Minister said that checking and patrolling has already been intensified on the interstate and inter district points especially at the vulnerable areas. He said that the Punjab is fighting the nation's war against drugs and terrorists and is in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government to bring back tourists from the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a nexus of smugglers, gangsters and terrorists is trying to disrupt the hard earned peace of state through the drones adding that soon the state government will rope in anti drone techniques to check the smuggling of weapons and drugs through the drones.
The Chief Minister said that security has been beefed up in the state and strict vigil is being kept across Punjab to ensure that no one violates the law. He said that Punjab Police is fully capable of foiling any such attempt and a perfect coordination is being ensured between Army, BSF and Punjab Police. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has a strong second line of Defence in form of the state Police which is committed to maintain the law and order in the state.
The Chief Minister further said that security at Tourist places has been enhanced in Punjab and no one will be allowed to disturb law and order in the state. Meanwhile, he said that this attack is a dastardly act as no religion allows such a heinous crime adding that that this senseless violence was an outrage against humanity and deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible words by everyone, regardless of religion, region, nation or any other persuasion. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has a border with Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir so the state is on high vigil and an eagle eye is being kept against anti-national forces.
The Chief Minister said that due to the proactive and sustainable vigil of Punjab Police the conspiracies of such forces inimical to state have been foiled. He said that Punjab has unleashed war against smugglers, gangsters and terrorists adding that they will not be allowed to succeed in their evil designs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for preserving the hard earned peace of Punjab for which no stone is being left unturned.
The Chief Minister said that borders of the state have been already sealed and a red alert has been issued to the cops. He also said that vigil has also been enhanced in more than 160 institutes where students from Kashmir are studying. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is fully capable of dealing with any such proxy war unleashed by the Pakistan sponsored anti-Punjab and anti-national nexus of criminals.
The Chief Minister emphatically said that peace, harmony and brotherhood were on the top of his government’s agenda. He appealed to the people to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony at all cost in this hour of crisis, as preached by our great gurus, seers and prophets. Bhagwant Singh Mann also exhorted the people to exercise restraint in these circumstances by displaying the ethos of religious tolerance, unity and brotherhood.
On the occasion, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and others were also present.