Jammu: India tightened its security after a blast took place at Pakistan's side of Wagah Border on Sunday.
Ashok Kumar, IG, BSF was quoted by ANI as saying, “Our side is safe, we are alert, have increased our security and are in constant touch with district officials and state police.”
He also said that the blast took place 500 metre away from Wagah border around 6:15 pm today.”
Meanwhile, BSF chief DK Pathak, who spoke to his officers in the Ferozpur division under which the Wagah sector falls to assess the situation, said BSF had received some inputs about a fortnight ago that terror groups may try to carry out a possible strike during the beating retreat ceremony, hosted by both the border guarding forces every evening before sunset.
There will be no beating retreat ceremony at Wagah border for three days from tomorrow at the request of Pakistan, he said, as per PTI.
The BSF chief said his officers in Punjab had already undertaken "coordination" meetings with all intelligence, security and state government authorities in the light of the inputs they had received.
At least 55 people, including children and security personnel, were killed in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan at Wagah today, minutes after the popular flag- lowering ceremony at the main Indo-Pak land border crossing.
"A large number of people were returning after watching Rangers flag ceremony at Wagah border when a suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates," Inspector General Police of Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said. He said three Pakistan Rangers personnel were also among the dead.
To a question about security arrangements, Sukhera said, "The Rangers had made stringent security measures but it was difficult to check suicide bomber".
The al Qaeda affiliated group Jandullah has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a news Daily.
Huge crowds gather every evening at the crossing, 22 kilometres from Lahore, to watch a "lowering of the flags" ceremony and witness the energetic display of military pageantry that accompanies the formal closing of the border post which soldiers from both countries have conducted for decades.
Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast.
In the wake of Muharram, the police had made strict security measures.
"We had reports that some banned outfits might target Shias, religious personalities, public processions and important buildings," Sukhera said.
He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast," Sukhera said.
"The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added.
"People were returning after watching the parade at Wagah border when the blast took place. Ball bearings were found at the scene," another police official said.
Imdad Husain, an eyewitness, told reporters that he was returning after watching the parade ceremony when he heard a bang near the Wagah border market.
"I fell unconscious. When I gained consciousness there had been complete darkness. Many injured and I cried for help lying on the road. After 15 minutes some rescue men came towards me and shifted me to the Ghurki Hospital, a border area health facility," he said.
Samina Bibi was also returning along with her husband and two young children when the blast took place. On the bed of the Ghurki Hospital she was crying and asking the doctors about her husband and children. "The doctors were comforting her saying they are alright," Imdad said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the Lahore blast and ordered the authorities concerned to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
Pakistan has been hit by a homegrown Taliban insurgency that has left thousands of people dead in the past decade.
In June, the Amy began an operation against militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal region, after a bloody attack on Karachi airport ended fledgling peace talks between the government and the Pakistani Taliban.
The military says over 1,100 militants and 100 soldiers have been killed since the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb while more than 100 militants have surrendered.
With Agency inputs
