Chandigarh, April 16: Security agencies are on high alert and carrying out search operation in the border belt of Punjab, particularly in the frontier districts of Pathankot and nearby areas, on Monday after two suspected terrorists were seen in the area.
The Punjab Police, Army and paramilitary forces launched the search operation after the two suspected armed men in Army fatigues were seen near the border belt of Bamyal sector, bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.
Pathankot district police chief Vikas Sheel Soni told the media that the security agencies had launched a search operation in the border belt.
The suspected men stopped a Maruti Alto car belonging to Maskin Ali late on Sunday night and sought a lift. However, Ali and his friend sped away, suspecting that they could be terrorists.
Ali informed the Punjab Police following which the search operation was launched on Monday morning.
Security agencies in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir have also been alerted about the movement of the suspects.
The Pathankot air base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, on January 2, 2016, leaving seven people dead.
The area has defence establishments, including the frontier IAF base and the nearby Mamoon Cantt of the Army.
Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base, three suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack in Dinanagar town in neighbouring Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015.
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PM Modi has taken 'bold decisions' to combat terrorism, says HD Deve Gowda
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI): Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken "bold decisions" to combat terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and affirmed his and his party's support for all the decisions to end the menace.
"We need to teach the terrorists a lesson. This is the first time that a prime minister has taken such bold steps. No prime minister has given such supreme authority to the army," Deve Gowda said at a press conference.
The Janata Dal (Secular) leader noted Modi implemented several measures, including granting full operational freedom to the Indian Armed Forces to determine the mode, targets and timing of their response.
Founded by Deve Gowda, the Janata Dal (Secular) is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. His son HD Kumaraswamy is a minister in the Union government.
Deve Gowda noted that the current situation could not be compared to the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, describing them as "different scenarios".
The former prime minister also welcomed the Centre's decision to enumerate caste in the upcoming general census while hitting out at the caste survey conducted in Karnataka.
"Karnataka is indulging in politics in the name of caste census. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Cabinet does not agree with the caste census conducted in the state," he said.
Deve Gowda said the Karnataka survey had identified 1,351 castes and sub-castes, with the Kurubas being among the prominent backward communities.
He also questioned Siddaramaiah's commitment to his AHINDA platform. "How many staff has he hired from backward communities or his own Kuruba community in his own office?"
The Karnataka caste survey report has recommended reclassifying the Kuruba community from category 2A to the more backward 1B category, reflecting its socio-economic status.
AHINDA represents a significant portion of Karnataka's population, including religious minorities (Muslims and Christians), Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
