Punjab: The Border Security Force shot dead five intruders along the India-Pakistan International Border in Punjab early Saturday.
According to officials, this is the highest number of intruders killed in a single incident along the over 3,300 km-long border with Pakistan in more than a decade.
The senior officer said “alert troops of the 103rd battalion noticed suspicious movement of intruders violating the IB” in the Taran Taran district of Punjab.
When asked to stop, the intruders fired on BSF troops who retaliated in self-defence, he added
Subsequently, five infiltrators were shot dead, he said.
According to another BSF official, the incident took place around 4:45 am near the ‘dal’ border post that is close to the Bhikhiwind town of the district.
BSF troops, officials said, first noticed suspicious activity at the border around midnight and launched a “focussed” surveillance on the intruders and set up multiple ambushes along the front after which the “contact was established” early morning, just behind the IB fence.
The intruders were seen carrying rifles and were taking the aid of the ‘sarkanda’ or tall grass to sneak into India, they said
The second BSF official said one AK-47 rifle and two pistols have been found.
An intensive search is underway to find other possible weapons carried by the infiltrators.
Image Source: Internet