CHANDIGARH — Amid heightened tension, Punjab, which shares a 532-km border with
Pakistan, has ordered closure of all educational institutes and cancelled
exams.
I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University in Jalandhar on
Friday said that with the approval of the competent authority, it added that
the end semester examinations being held has been postponed until notice due to
unforeseen circumstances.
The revised schedule for the examinations will be
announced at least five days prior to the new date of commencement, it said.
The state government has set up a control room for the
convenience of people.
It can be reached out at landline phone numbers
0172-2741803 and 0172-2749901.
State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that in
view of the evolving situation, "it is hereby ordered that all schools,
colleges, and universities -- government, private, and aided -- across entire
Punjab would remain completely closed for the next three days. On Thursday
night, blackouts were reported in six border districts of Punjab -- Ferozpur,
Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, where Pakistani drones
attempted to infiltrate."
In Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana,
authorities declared closure of all schools till Saturday.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday neutralised a
Pakistani intruder in the Ferozepur sector.
The intruder, yet to be identified, was gunned down in
the early morning hours of Friday while crossing the International Border
between India and Pakistan.
The intruder was spotted trying to infiltrate near a gate
adjacent to Lakha Singh Wala BSF post.
Amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan, people
in some border villages of Punjab have started moving to safer places.
Villagers settled in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and
Tarn Taran districts close to the International Border began shifting their
belongings to safer places despite the BSF, the Indian Army and even the local
civil authorities not having issued any official evacuation orders.
The leave of all Punjab Police personnel was also
cancelled.
Punjab Aam Aadmi Party Chief Aman Arora said the state
government and all three crore Punjabis stand firmly with the Indian Army.
Arora added that the Punjab Police, as the "second
line of defence," is also fully prepared.
"The state's police force will join the Indian Army
in every battle to deliver a crushing response to any Pakistani attack."
Punjab shares a 532-km-long border with Pakistan.
Therefore, during any military tension, the role of the Punjab government and
its security and law enforcement agencies becomes extremely crucial.
The state government also appealed to the people of Punjab
to strictly adhere to all government orders and guidelines to ensure there is
no risk to public safety.
