Pakistani intruder shot near border

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 19

A Pakistani intruder was shot dead near the India-Pakistan border here on Wednesday night. His accomplices fled.

Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant PJS Nagra said troops deployed in an area under the Channa border outpost in the Gurdaspur sector noticed suspicious movement around 10:20 pm. Despite repeated warnings, the intruder kept moving towards the border fence, even as three-four persons ran back towards the Pakistan side.

“Sensing a threat and to thwart any misadventure, the troops opened fire and killed him on the spot. In his mid-thirties, he was unarmed. We recovered Rs 510 in Indian currency, a mobile headphone and a tobacco pack from his possession. The (unidentified) body was handed over to the police,” said BSF DIG Rajesh Sharma.

He said intruders usually moved in groups, with the leader never carrying any proof of identity. It’s the third such attempt since January.

“He did not appear to be mentally unstable. His photograph will be shown to the Pakistani Rangers for identification. If they disown him, we will get the body cremated,” he said.

The body will be kept in the mortuary at Ajnala Civil Hospital for 72 hours. Senior Medical Officer Dr Brij Bhushan Sehgal said the post-mortem examination would be conducted in a day or two.

Past instances 

• April 6, 2018: Pakistani man nabbed with 4-kg heroin, another shot dead in Ramkot border outpost area in Amritsar 
• January 13, 2018: Pakistani intruder shot dead by BSF at border outpost of Rear Kakkar in Amritsar sector; about 600 Pakistani rupees recovered
• December 23, 2017: BSF foils infiltration bid; Pakistani national killed while he was crossing over to the Indian territory through Ajnala sector