Punjab on High Alert Following Pahalgam Terror Attack; Security Stepped Up Across State

• Apr 24, 2025

In the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Punjab government has placed the state on high alert, ramping up security measures at religious sites, public areas, and around individuals identified as high-risk.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the security situation. He announced heightened patrolling around public spaces and educational institutions, particularly those with a significant number of students from Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the heads of the state intelligence and vigilance departments. DGP Yadav said that soon after the attack, the state activated a comprehensive alert, enhancing checking at inter-state and inter-district borders, and increasing security presence in crowded public areas.

“We are coordinating with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and national intelligence agencies in real time,” Yadav stated. “Pakistan continues to pursue a strategy of bleeding India through a thousand cuts. We’ve taken strong action against terror modules in the past and will continue to do so.”

Chief Minister Mann pointed to Punjab’s 530-km-long border with Pakistan, making it vulnerable to cross-border threats. “This attack once again proves that terrorism has no religion. Its only objective is to spread fear. We are committed to preserving peace and communal harmony in the state,” he emphasized.

Mann also warned of an emerging alliance between gangsters, smugglers, and terrorists. “Drones are being used to smuggle weapons, currency, and drugs. As we crack down on drug traffickers, such elements may try to destabilize the state. Many gangsters are operating from abroad, hiring local shooters to carry out violent acts. We are fully prepared to counter them,” he added.

The Chief Minister noted that the state government is in regular contact with its Jammu and Kashmir counterpart and is working to safely bring back Punjabis currently in the Kashmir Valley. The Punjab Tourism Department is overseeing these efforts.

Congress Condemns Attack, Pledges Support to Government

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring condemned the Pahalgam attack, calling it “an assault on the unity and integrity of the country.” Addressing a protest gathering in Chandigarh, Warring extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.

He also reiterated Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s support for the Union Government in its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure national security.