Pathankot IAF base security tightened, orders to shoot suspects issued

The authorities have issued shoot-on-sight orders to further ensure the security of the crucial IAF base here. Posters of order have also been pasted on the walls surrounding the airbase.

Pathankot: The security of the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, which was attacked by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in January this year, has been tightened following inputs from the intelligence agencies.

According to reports, the authorities have also issued shoot-on-sight orders to further ensure the security of the crucial IAF base here. The posters of the order have also been pasted on the walls surrounding the airbase.

Besides, the Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police had conducted a five-hour-long joint flag march in border villages to instil confidence among people.

Senior police officials claimed that these measures were being taken to dispel any fears among locals in the wake of terrorist attack here in January.

Reports, however, claim that the security agencies had received “credible intelligence inputs” following which the security has been upped.

A group of heavily armed militants had entered the IAF base in a pre-dawn operation on January 2 from the rear side and shot dead seven security personnel before National Security Guard sharpshooters gunned them down.

On July 27 last year, three terrorists had made their way into the Dinanagar police station and were neutralised by the Special Weapons and Tactics police team after a daylong gunbattle.

The sprawling Pathankot air base spread over 16 square kilometres houses nearly 5,000 people.