The day after: Border on alert, Govt says threat from those who have slipped in

BSF TOLD TO USE ‘FULL FORCE’ TO RESPOND TO CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

A DAY after the Army conducted “surgical strikes” on terror launch pads along the Line of Control (LOC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the Union Home Ministry issued a nationwide advisory to “maintain high levels of vigil to thwart any attempts by terroriststostrikeback”.thegovernment is also learnt to have told the BSF to use “full force” to defend the border in case of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

“While the next 10-15 days will be particularly crucial, the highest level of alertness will be necessary until the end of October. This is a particularly sensitive time as the festival season is approaching. Border states such as J&K, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, as well as the metros, have been cautioned through an advisory. Coastal security measures have been stepped up, too,” said a senior Intelligence Bureau official.

This time, the major concern is the possibility of retaliatory attacks by terrorists who had infiltrated into Indian territory earlier, said the official. “As per our assessments, around 85-90 terrorists have infiltrated this year. This is our biggest threat at the moment,” said the official.

On Friday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation during an hour-long meeting with senior officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and