Panic after 2 spotted in army fatigues; forces on toes chasing rumours

Security forces in Ferozepur were on toes on Tuesday after the residents mistook two men repairing telephone lines in army fatigues for terrorists.

Security forces in Ferozepur were on toes on Tuesday after the residents mistook two men repairing telephone lines in army fatigues for terrorists.

Panic spread through the entire town and the army was informed.

The army cordoned off the entire cantonment area and a quick reactions team (QRT) team was deployed to search for the suspected terrorists.

However, when the CCTV camera, installed near the spot where the two men were repairing the cable, was checked, the suspected terrorists turned out to be telephone linesmen from Signals Regiment, who had come to repair the telephone lines passing through the area.

DIG Ferozepur range, Amar Singh Chahal, said that after going through CCTV footage, the two men were identified to be personnel of the Indian Army working to lay cable.

Panicked parents, recalling the recent Pathankot attacks when six terrorists sporting army fatigues found their way inside the Pathankot Air Force Station and killed seven army personnel, thronged schools to collect their children.

Ferozepur senior superintendent of police Hardyal SinghMann said, “The rumors regarding firing or infiltration by terrorists are all baseless and there is no need to panic.”

(With inputs from Agency)