Pakistani smuggler shot dead, heroin worth Rs120 crore seized

Tribune News Service

Khasa (Amritsar), March 28

The Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down a Pakistani smuggler in the Majhmian border outpost area today.

Twenty-four packets of heroin pushed in from the other side of the border were also seized. This is one of the biggest hauls in this year. The seized heroin (24kg) is worth Rs 120 crore in the international market.

Anil Paliwal, IG, BSF, Punjab frontier, said the jawans noticed movement of around five smugglers from across the international border around 3 am today. They were carrying a plastic pipe to be used for sneaking the contraband across the electrified barbed fence.

“One of the smugglers came close to the fence. When he was challenged, his accomplices, who were standing near the international border, started firing at BSF jawans. Our jawans retaliated and the smuggler was killed. A couple of other smugglers might also have been injured in the firing as some blood stains were seen near the border. They, however, succeeded in returning. Over 250 bullets were fired during the ambush,” said IG Paliwal.

IG Paliwal was accompanied by DIG, BSF, Amritsar sector, MF Farooqui and DIG RPS Jaswal. He said the growth of wheat crop in the agricultural land across the barbed fence provided shield to the smugglers. He said the BSF was on high alert and the movement of troops had been intensified to check any further misadventure.

He said they were yet to identify the deceased Pakistani national. He said, “As per the laid norms, we will ask the Pakistani Rangers to identify him. If they wanted to take back his body, we would hand it over to them after following due procedure.”

With today’s seizure, the BSF has confiscated 111kg of heroin in 2015 in the state.