After Terror Attack, Punjab Police Suggest ‘Community Policing’

Punjab police ask the Pathankot residents to practice community policing to prevent attacks similar to Gurdaspur.

Security personnel in Dinanagar during the terror attack. (Photo: PTI)

Days after terror struck Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur, Punjab police has asked residents of adjoining border district of Pathankot to hold “community policing” on a regular basis to prevent repeat of such incident.

Meanwhile, Punjab police has stepped up security and increased vigil in the district, border areas and Ranjit Sagar Dam to keep a check on any suspicious activity.

We are requesting villagers to hold community policing in order to keep a check on anti-social elements or any suspicious activity.
— Rakesh Kaushal, Pathankot SSP

Popularly known as thikri pehras (community policing), a practice which was followed during the militancy days in 1980s.

Under thikri pehras, villagers take control of the security of their areas by way of patrolling at night to prevent criminal or illegal activities.

We have deployed nine companies of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) in our district at several points and also enhanced our vigil on roads and highways.
— Rakesh Kaushal, Pathankot SSP

Pathankot is located just about 30 km away from Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district, where on Monday three terrorists had attacked a passenger bus and stormed a police station, killing seven persons, including an SP.