Punjab wants 'sensitive' status for border area

Bathinda (Punjab), Jan 4: The Punjab government on Monday urged the Centre to accord "sensitive" status to areas along the intertiol border with Pakistan in view of recent attacks by Pakistani terrorists. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media here on Monday that the Punjab government will demand sensitive status for the intertiol border on the lines of neighbouring Jammu-Kashmir. "We want thick security cover for Punjab's intertiol border, the way it has been done for the Jammu-Kashmir intertiol border," Badal said. "In order to strengthen security along the intertiol borders of Punjab in Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts, the state will demand from the central government deployment of more battalions of the BSF," he said. Badal added that the Punjab government was also chalking out a strategy to prepare a second line of defence along the Pakistan border.  (IANS)