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JODHPUR, Dec 20: India has begun moving hundreds of tanks and other army vehicles towards the Sindh-Rajasthan border, army officials and witnesses said.

In Jodhpur more than 500 tanks, army jeeps, trucks and medical vans had been seen moving towards the border from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. According to Indian officials, the frontier with Pakistan has been put on “high alert” since the Dec 13 attack on the Indian parliament.

On Wednesday evening, authorities in Jodhpur conducted a “mock blackout” exercise, cutting off electricity in the entire city.

Officials also said the Indian army had given instructions to the railway authorities that some local and long distance trains may be commandeered for troop movements. Leave for all railway employees has been cancelled.

The transport authorities have also begun impounding civilian trucks and other heavy vehicles.

The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Air Force have been put on high alert and senior BSF officer B.D. Sharma said Pakistan Rangers had been taking up positions on the other side of the border.—AFP

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