Chandigarh/Dina Nagar: Security forces in Punjab went on "maximum alert" in the wake of suspected terror attack in Gurdaspur district on Monday, about three weeks ahead of the Independence Day.
A senior police official said that in view of the attack, "maximum alert" has been sounded across the state and security has been beefed up along its borders with neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir.
Additional police and other security personnel have been deployed around vital installations and key public places in the state, the official said.
He said the police has set up 'nakas' or check-points and intensified checking of vehicles.
BSF, which guards the Indo-Pak border, has also been put on high alert after the incident, he said.
Meanwhile, alert has also been sounded in neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh, the common capital of both the states.
Meanwhile, panic gripped Dina Nagar town in Gurdaspur following the attack.
As the news of attack spread, people living near Dina Nagar police station were gripped by panic and largely remained indoors. Many switched on their TV sets to catch the latest updates on the situation.
"People are in a state of panic here after they came to know about the attack," said Jatinder Kumar, whose house is 500 metres away from the Dina Nagar police station.
Notably, Dina Nagar, about 25 km from Pathankot town, is the third largest town in Gurdaspur district.
"We can still listen to the sound of firing going on at police station between and security personnel and (suspected) militants," Jatinder told over phone.
Jatinder, who is an employee of Punjab Health Department, came to know about the incident at about 6:15 am through his friend who called him up and informed about the incident.
"Then I went upstairs of my house and heard sound of bullet firing," he said, adding, soon a heavy police force and then the Army arrived at the spot to take on the militants.
Both Jatinder and his wife who works in Punjab's Internal Audit Department, have decided not to go to their offices in the wake of suspected terror attack.
"Our son who is a student of Class VIII has also not gone to school as district administration announced holiday in educational institutions," he said.
Varinder Kumar Vikky, who is also resident of Dina Nagar said, "There is panic in the area as this is for the first time that this area witnessed such an attack."
