Security in metro cities was reviewed after India's strikes on Pak terrorist targets across LoC. (File)
The union home ministry has alerted all metros to be vigilant in the next 30 days, as security is tightened across the country after the Army's surgical strikes on multiple terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed security across the country, particularly along the border with Pakistan in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, and directed central security organisations to be on high alert.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other top bureaucrats and intelligence officials briefed the Home Minister about the situation along the border and preparedness to foil any retaliatory attacks.
The Central Industrial Security Force or CISF has been asked to intensify security at all industrial units, airports and other locations where they are deployed. Units of the Border Security Force deployed along the international border in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat have also been directed to step up vigil.
People who live in hundreds of villages within 10 km of the border in the two states are being evacuated since Thursday evening.
The Indian Army announced on Thursday that it had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir at seven different terrorist launch pads up to two kilometres across the Line of Control or LoC and that "scores of terrorists were killed."
Pakistan has denied the raids by India and accused India of "fabrication of truth," alleging that what in fact took place was unprovoked cross-border firing by India.
Rajnath Singh has said he will take up with Pakistan the release of a soldier the army says inadvertently crossed over the Line of Control on Thursday and was captured. All attempts are being made to free 22-year-old soldier Chandu Babulal Chauhan from Pakistani captivity, the minister said.
The army has denied Pakstani reports that Chandu Babulal Chauhan was captured alive in during the surgical strikes, asserting that its special op forces returned with "not one scratch" in that operation.
The surgical strikes are being seen as the first major military action taken by India after terrorists from Pakistan attacked an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri earlier this month, killing 19 soldiers. PM Modi had said that the Uri attack would "not go unpunished."
The US has supported India, reasserting that Pakistan must fight against terrorism, and called for de-escalation of tension. "Obviously, an (terrorist) attack like that (in Uri) escalates tensions," said State Department Spokesperson John Kirby.
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