BSF seizes 21 kg heroin in Punjab

Just a day after it shot dead three Pakistani intruders in the Gurdaspur sector, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday seized 21 kg of heroin in the Amritsar sector of the border along with an Italian-made shot-gun and Pakistan-made ammunition.

The seizure was made in the area of operation of Border Outpost (BoP) Narlie of Amritsar sector, BSF Deputy Inspector General R.S. Kataria said.

The seized heroin is worth Rs 105 crore in the international market.

"The BSF personnel have successfully seized 21 packets of contraband and one Shot Gun (Made in Italy) with three rounds of ammunition (WAH Industries, Pakistan) in the area of responsibility of Border Outpost Narlie," Kataria said.

He said that the seizure was made after the BSF troopers noticed suspicious movement near the barbed wire fencing inside Indian territory early on Wednesday.

"When the Pakistani smugglers reached near fence and started throwing some packets over it, BSF troops challenged them to stop, but the Pakistani smugglers did not pay any heed to the challenge and opened fire," a BSF statement said.

"To stop them, the BSF troopers also retaliated by firing. However, the smugglers managed to escape taking cover of thick vegetation, undulating ground and darkness," the statement said.

The BSF had on Tuesday shot dead three Pakistani intruders near BoP Dariya Mansoor in Gurdaspur sector of Punjab as they tried to get close to the fence.

The BSF has recovered over 143 kg of heroin in the border belt of Punjab. The state has a 553-km long international boundary with Pakistan.

At least 10 weapons, ammunition, Pakistani mobiles and SIM cards have been recovered in the border belt this year.

The BSF has, this year, killed five Pakistani intruders and six Pakistani smugglers. Two Indian smugglers have also been killed in the border belt.

--IANS

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