Home Ministry issues high alert over possible attacks in Punjab, J&K, Rajasthan, Gujarat

The Centre on Friday issued a country-wide alert asking the states to heighten vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks amid apprehensions of backlash by terrorists after the surgical strike on their launch pads in PoK.

In an advisory, the Home Ministry conveyed to the states that additional forces should be deployed in all sensitive places, strategic installations, markets, religious places and other key places to ensure security, an official source said. Metro cities were particularly asked to be extra vigilant.

States touching the border with Pakistan -- Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat -- were also directed to remain vigilant, sources said. The advisory has been sent in the wake of yesterday's surgical strike by Indian army in terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sources said there is high probability that Pakistani agencies may try to use the terror groups to carry out strike in Indian soil to avenge yesterday's attack.

India carried out 'surgical strikes' on terror launch pads across LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists and those who are trying to support them.

The announcement of the sudden action by the Army was made yesterday by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, 11 days after the terror strike by Pakistan-based JeM on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Kashmir which left 19 Indian soldiers dead.