BSF guns down 5 intruders at India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday (August 21) shot down five intruders who were trying to infiltrate into Indian territory from Pakistan side in Punjab's Tarn Taran district.

TARN TARAN: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday (August 21) shot down five intruders who were trying to infiltrate Indian territory from Pakistan side in Punjab's Tarn Taran district. The incident took place near Dal village of Bhikhiwind sub-division in the district. A rifle and a bag pack has been recovered from one of the slain intruders.  

Officials said the incident took place in the early hours, when BSF personnel spotted some movement across the fence in Tarn Taran district.

They said the intruders were challenged and subsequently shot dead in an exchange of fire. Two bodies have been recovered along with a rifle. The area has been cordoned off and a search has been launched to retrieve the third body, officials said. 

Although an identification of the slain intruders is yet to be carried out, the BSF suspected them to either be terrorists or drug smugglers.

"Alert troops of 103 Battalions of BSF noticed suspicious movement of intruders violating the International Border along Tarn Taran, Punjab. Upon being challenged to stop, intruders fired upon BSF troops who retaliated in self-defence. Resultantly, five intruders were shot," a BSF spokesperson was quoted by ANI. 

Meanwhile, the BSF has cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to find out if more infiltrators have sneaked into the Indian side from across the border.