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In an atmosphere of heightened military activities across the border and aggressive posturing by Pakistan's Army and Air Force, ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. New Delhi has activated the country's civil defence network for any eventuality.ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. The Union home ministry has put civil defence volunteers on alert, particularly in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, following reports and indications of movements on the Pakistani side of the border.ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. The civil defence volunteers have been asked to be ready to evacuate people from border villages “if necessary”.

Speaking to this newspaper on Thursday, the Union home secretary,ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. Mr Madhu-kar Gupta said the home ministry was “working on a scheme to have civil defence volunteers in all states to assist the local police in activities ranging from law and order to internal security.” Mr Gupta added that the move “has nothing to do with the so-called military activities on the Pakistani side.” ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad.

Confirming activities on the Pakistan side of the border,ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. the BSF director-general, Mr M.L. Kumawat, said his men remained fully vigilant and were prepared to deal with any eventuality. “All along the border areas,ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. the BSF will deal with the situation any time, any problem arising from the other side,” he said.

BSF officers in Rajasthan said that a strict watch was being kept along the 1,000-km border with Pakistan. Reports indicated that an uneasy calm prevailed in the four border districts. ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad.

In Jaipur, government officials said there was no move to relocate villagers living near the border. ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad.

The Centre has designated 225 towns across the country,ponnapula , Dr.ponnapula sanjeeva prasad. most of them in border regions, as “civil defence towns”.