A day after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, Punjab is on the edge, responding swiftly and comprehensively to the escalating threat. The state has rolled out a multi-layered security response, with an all-encompassing crackdown that spans from educational institutions to international borders. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, following a high-level security review meeting on Wednesday morning, declared that Punjab is in a state of high alert, with law and order now accorded the “highest priority”.
Security has been drastically beefed up across Punjab — especially in over 160 educational institutions housing students from Jammu and Kashmir — as well as tourist hubs, religious sites, and public spaces with heavy footfall.
Chief Minister Mann also ordered intensified security deployment along the state's sensitive border with J&K in Pathankot, where specialized units from the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), and Punjab Police’s anti-sabotage squads have been mobilized. A red alert has been sounded, with inter-state and inter-district checkpoints now under constant surveillance, while security forces operate in joint coordination to thwart any further escalation.
Condemning the Pahalgam attack as “barbaric and inhuman, Mann asserted that the safety of every citizen remains paramount. Addressing media after the review meeting with top civil and police officials — including Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and DGP Gaurav Yadav, Mann emphasized that no one will be allowed to disrupt Punjab’s hard-earned peace. “Punjab Police is fully capable of foiling any attempt to destabilize the state. We have forged a seamless coordination mechanism between the Punjab Police, Army, and BSF to counter any emerging threat,” he said.
Mann also revealed that the state is in constant touch with the J&K Administration to ensure the safe return of Punjabis currently stranded in the Kashmir valley, particularly tourists and students. “We are monitoring the situation in real-time. Our primary concern is the safety of our people — whether in Punjab or in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He further urged the citizens to remain calm and uphold the values of communal harmony and unity. “The terrorists have no religion. Their only objective is to sow fear and divide society. We will not let them succeed,” Mann said.
Appealing to the public to avoid panic and display the spirit of brotherhood, he added, “This is the time to stand together as one — across castes, creeds, and communities.”
The security response in border regions has been particularly intense. In Pathankot — Punjab’s northernmost district sharing a border with J&K — security agencies launched round-the-clock surveillance. The Madhopur checkpoint on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway has become a focal point for rigorous inspections, manned by Army personnel, BSF units, and Punjab Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG).
According to Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Daljinder Singh Dhillon, joint Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been stationed to respond immediately to any untoward situation. “This level of preparedness is absolutely necessary. We are leaving nothing to chance,” he said.
Additional security measures have been taken in light of intelligence suggesting the involvement of a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander in the Pahalgam incident. Sketches of three suspected terrorists have been released by security agencies, prompting Punjab Police to increase patrols and surveillance across high-risk zones. Explosive-sniffing dog squads have been deployed in several sensitive areas, with more expected to join shortly.
SSP Dhillon said that the entire operation is being monitored from the Pathankot police’s command-and-control center, ensuring real-time surveillance and coordinated response. Joint Quick Response Teams (QRTs), comprising personnel from the Army and Punjab Police, have also been stationed at the border for immediate action in case of any threat.
DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that a state-wide alert was issued within hours of the attack, with Punjab stepping up vigilance along its 530-km border with Pakistan and J&K. “Pakistan is continuing its proxy war strategy — whether through terror modules or drone-based smuggling operations. But we are prepared. We’ve dismantled several modules before and we will continue to do so,” said DGP Yadav. He maintained that Punjab is coordinating in real-time with the central intelligence agencies and the J&K Police.
The nexus of gangsters, smugglers, and terrorists continues to be a concern for the state. “Ever since we tightened the noose around drug peddlers and gangsters, they’ve started collaborating with cross-border terror outfits. But let me assure the people of Punjab — we’re watching them, and we will act decisively,” said Mann, adding that anti-drone technology will soon be deployed to curb aerial smuggling of weapons and narcotics.
Notably, police across districts adjoining Jammu — particularly in Gurdaspur and Pathankot — have also sealed alternative routes that connect with the Jammu division. Vehicles entering Punjab from J&K are undergoing thorough checks at multiple barriers, and police checkpoints have been reinforced with additional personnel.
SHO Vijay Kumar of Naranot Jaimal Singh Police Station said: “All police personnel, posted at border outposts, have been asked to remain in a state of heightened alert, especially after reports of suspected individuals being sighted near the international border earlier this week.”
The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring peace and stability in Punjab. “We are the second line of defense after our Army. Punjab has seen the dark days of terror. We’ve come too far to go back now,” he said.
Protests Erupt Across Punjab; Both Hindu, Muslim Communities Unite in Condemnation
Widespread protests swept across Punjab on Wednesday in the wake of the heinous terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. For the first time in recent memory, members of both Hindu and Muslim communities took to the streets together, united in grief and rage, denouncing the act of terror and raising slogans against Pakistan.
In Ludhiana, outside the historic Jama Masjid, Muslim protestors led by the Shahi Imam of Punjab, Maulana Muhammad Usman Rahmani Ludhianvi, condemned the attack as a “shameful act against humanity”. He said: “Those responsible should be hanged in public squares. This cowardly act of asking victims’ religion before killing them cannot be tolerated.”
Emphasizing that terrorism has no religion, he said: “Killing an innocent is like killing all of humanity — this is what the Holy Quran teaches.” The Imam's voice echoed across communities as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with others burning effigies of terrorists and chanting “Pakistan Murdabad” and “Down with Terrorism”.
In a rare and powerful gesture of solidarity, Hindu organizations including Shiv Sena and the Hindu Suraksha Samiti held simultaneous protests in Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Phagwara. They too burned Pakistan’s flags and demanded strict action from the Indian government.
In Phagwara, protestors gathered at Hanumangarhi Mandir, offering prayers for the departed souls and observing a moment of silence. The streets resounded with chants of unity, and leaders across religious lines called for a fast-track trial and immediate punishment for those involved.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the region in recent decades, has drawn nationwide condemnation. “The time has come to stand united,” said community leader Muhammad Mustaqeem, adding, “We will not let these terror outfits divide us.”
Incident Triggers Panic: 12k Kashmir Bookings Cancelled from Punjab
Pahalgam terror attack has sent shockwaves through Punjab’s travel and tourism sector, with over 12,000 bookings to the region cancelled in just two days. Taxi and tempo operators in Jalandhar, alarmed by the sudden collapse in demand, staged a strong protest on Wednesday, demanding decisive action from the government to restore public confidence and punish those responsible for the attack.
Led by the Taxi Union, the protesters condemned the killing of innocent civilians and described the attack as a direct blow to national peace and security. “This is not just a tragedy — it’s a betrayal of trust. Tourists don’t feel safe anymore,” said the Taxi Union president Hardeep Singh Raju.
He revealed that the Amarnath Yatra and general tourism bookings from Punjab to Kashmir, which peak during the summer, have collapsed overnight. “We were looking at a good season. Now, it's all gone. People are cancelling even Vaishno Devi tours. The damage runs into crores,” he said.
The protestors plan to submit memorandums to the Punjab Government and local police, demanding heightened security assurances for tourists. Meanwhile, travel agents across Punjab and hoteliers in Kashmir are reporting mass cancellations, with airfares from Srinagar skyrocketing and inbound travel plummeting despite slashed prices.
“This attack has derailed the entire tourism season,” said Karan Saggar, a Ludhiana-based travel agent. “If the government doesn’t step in swiftly, thousands of families connected to this industry — from cab drivers to hotel staff — will be left devastated,” he added.
For many in the industry, Tuesday’s attack didn’t just claim lives — it marked the sudden and heartbreaking end of a thriving tourist season.
