Anirudh Gupta,Ferozepur, January 12

Panic gripped this border town after a terror alert was sounded in the cantonment area. Two persons in Army fatigue were spotted jumping the wall of a house near the Golden Arrow Officers Institute this morning.Sources said a person, identified as Ashwani Kumar, noticed the movement of two persons in Army uniform whom he erroneously took as terrorists and informed the local military authorities.An alert was sounded and all entry and exit points of the cantonment were sealed. The quick reaction teams cordoned off the area while police and Army personnel launched a search operation.The two persons later turned out to be soldiers belonging to the Signals Regiment who were repairing a communication line.Hardyal Singh Mann, SSP, said the movement of the Army men was recorded in a CCTV camera installed at the house of a local businessman that sorted the matter. He said two signal persons were also identified who admitted to have gone in the area to check a telephone line.The incident, however, triggered panic in the entire area. Hundreds of panic-stricken parents thronged schools to pick their wards. Many schools were closed following which the district education office issued an advisory to all schools telling them not to succumb to rumours. At several places, police officials had to make public announcements, asking people not to panic and ignore the messages being spread on social media.

The incident

• Sources said a resident noticed the movement of two persons in Army uniform whom he mistookas terrorists
• An alert was sounded and all entry and exit points of the cantonment were sealed