Operation Sindoor Day 2 | Punjab and Rajasthan put on high alert, borders sealed; fighter jets conduct routine air patrols
PTC Web Desk: A day after India launched precision missile strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam Terror Attack, border states Punjab and Rajasthan have been placed on high alert. Authorities have cancelled all police leaves, suspended public gatherings, and activated emergency protocols amid fears of retaliation from across the border.
Rajasthan, which shares a 1,037-km international border with Pakistan, has taken stringent security measures. The border has been completely sealed, with the Border Security Force (BSF) receiving shoot-on-sight orders for any suspicious activity. Indian Air Force (IAF) bases in Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Bikaner have suspended flight operations until May 9, and fighter jets are conducting routine air patrols along the western front.
Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft are currently patrolling the airspace from Sri Ganganagar down to the Rann of Kutch. Schools in sensitive districts, including Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Barmer have been closed and examinations postponed. Emergency evacuation plans are in place for border villages, while anti-drone systems have also been activated. Authorities in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur have enforced mandatory blackouts from midnight to 4 am to obstruct potential enemy aerial operations.
In Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has cancelled all official programmes as a precaution. Police personnel have been recalled from leave, and restrictions have been placed on public events and large gatherings to minimise risks.
The military operation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, saw India carry out 24 missile strikes at nine identified locations harboring terrorist infrastructure affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. These strikes followed the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead. India has emphasized that the operation did not target Pakistani military assets, focusing solely on terror training hubs responsible for cross-border violence.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the strikes as "measured, proportionate, and responsible," reaffirming India’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks without escalating the situation unnecessarily.
However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, labelling them as an “act of war” and vowed a strong response to what he called a violation of sovereignty.
- With inputs from agencies
