Amid the high tension between India and Pakistan, schools in several border states have been closed for the second consecutive day.
The Punjab and Rajasthan governments also cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in border areas.
Amid the high tension between India and Pakistan, schools in several border states have been closed for the second consecutive day.
The Punjab and Rajasthan governments also cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in border areas.
Tension escalated after the Indian armed forces on early Wednesday carried out a missile strike on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok), including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke, in retaliation for the April 22 deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
Punjab Police has cancelled leaves of all its personnel while the state government has shut schools in six border districts, officials said on Thursday.
Citing officials, PTI reported that the schools were closed in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts. The Tarn Taran deputy commissioner issued an order that said all schools in the district will remain closed from May 8 till 11.
"Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan. Therefore, the role of the Punjab government becomes extremely crucial during any military tension. All districts near the border have been placed on high alert. The government has also cancelled all public events given the prevailing situation," Punjab minister Aman Arora said on Wednesday.
"Punjab Police is also fully prepared as the second line of defence. It will join the army in every battle to deliver a crushing response to any Pakistani attack," he added.
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While Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan, in Rajasthan, the border stretches about 1,070 km.
The Rajasthan government also cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in the border areas, sources said.
In view of "administrative reasons", leaves of all officers/employees of Punjab Police have been cancelled from May 7, an order issued by the DGP's office said.
"Leaves should be granted only in special circumstances with the approval of the competent authority," it said.
In Rajasthan, all government and private schools have been shut in four border districts – Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer – as a precautionary measure.
Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant and DGP U R Sahoo also chaired a review meeting with the divisional commissioners, collectors, IGPs and SPs, directing them to be present at their respective headquarters, sources said.
Directions have been issued to tighten security arrangements across the state.