High alert has been sounded in Gujarat in the wake of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror bases across the LoC, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.
The state shares land and sea boundary with Pakistan.
"Following surgical strikes, high alert has been sounded in entire Gujarat, specially the border districts police and coastal police stations have been alerted to increase vigil after our armed forces' successful operation," he said.
Three districts of the state-- Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan-- share boundary with the neighbouring country.
People in major cities in Gujarat welcomed the surgical strikes by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.
"Our officers are in constant touch with the officials of BSF and Coast Guard. The BSF and Coast Guard are extremely vigilant on the land border and sea coast respectively. Police in border districts have already stepped up patrolling," Patel said.
The coastal police have also been kept on high alert and have been asked to vigilantly monitor the movement in the sea, Patel said.
"The Centre has given us a directive to evacuate people from villages within 10 kms area of the border with Pakistan. But none of our villages are located in 10-km range from the border (due to Rann of Kutch). Our villages are almost 25 km away from the border,' Patel said.
The state Home Department has also asked the entire state police to be on alert so that no anti-India elements can take benefit of the situation, he said.
"We also request the people of the state to alert police or government regarding any suspicious activity and help the state maintain law and order," Patel said.
He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for fulfilling the promise of retaliation after the Uri terror attack".
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said surgical strikes are befitting response to terror.
"Surgical strikes are befitting response to proxy instigated by our neighbour. My heartiest congratulations to Indian Army and NaMo government," Rupani tweeted.
(REOPENS BOM 12)
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today held a meeting with top government officials to review security arrangements in the state especially in districts bordering Pakistan, following surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC.
Rupani said the government has instructed administration of four districts bordering Pakistan -- Kutch, Patan and Banaskanth -- to provide all necessary assistance to the Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guard, Navy and Army, as and when required.
"State government officials are in touch with BSF, Indian Coast Guard, Navy and Army in districts that are bordering Pakistan," Rupani said.
"District administrations have been instructed to immediately provide help sought by security agencies," Rupani said.
He said the state Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Quick Response Team along with state police have been put on high alert for upcoming Navratri festival, and special security arrangements are being made to protect vital installations in the state, especially ports and refineries which are located in bordering districts.
"We are concerned about vital installations located in bordering districts and CISF, BSF, police, and if required, military, will be deployed and we are coordinating with the central government in this regard," he said.
The meeting was attended by state Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja, in charge DGP P P Pandey, and senior IAS officers.
