13kg heroin seized along border in Amritsar

FOG AIDS MISCREANTS Pak smugglers pushed contraband from across fence at two places

The BSF on Monday recovered 13.26kg heroin from the border outposts of Daoke and Bharopal on the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar district. Some people threw the contraband from the Pakistan side to Indian farmland

AMRITSAR : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday claimed to have recovered 13.26kg heroin from the border outposts (BOPs) of Daoke and Bharopal on the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar district.

The contraband was contained in 13 packets, the BSF said. BSF deputy inspector general (DIG) JS Oberoi said taking advantage of dense fog on Monday morning, some people threw the contraband from the Pakistan side to Indian farmland.

Addressing a press conference at the BSF camp, the DIG said, “At around 9am, troops at the Daoke border outpost observed some Pakistan smugglers across the fence. During search, we recovered 12.77kg heroin in 12 packets.”

“In the second incident, the BSF troops noticed some suspicious movement across the fence at the Bharopal border outpost at about 10 am. The troops challenged the Pakistani smugglers who postured aggressively towards our men. The troops fired on them but they managed to escape taking advantage of heavy fog.”

He said after the firing, the BSF team during a search operation recovered 560-gm heroin (1 packet).

BSF ON ALERT: DIG

The DIG said since fog decreases the capability of equipment on the border, manpower has been increased.

“We have intelligence reports that some anti-national elements may increase activities in Punjab and the BSF is on an alert and has already increased vigil on the Punjab border with Pakistan,” he said.

“Due to foggy weather, we have got operational guidelines for strengthening the border patrol and we are maintaining extra vigil to counter the effect of the weather,” he said.

BORDER FARMER’S ROLE UNDER INVESTIGATION

The DIG said 12 packets of contraband were seized from the land of a farmer, Hari Singh, from across the fencing line. A FIR will be lodged in his name and the state police will investigate to confirm if the farmer is involved in such activities. “We have information that someone from Hari Singh’s family is involved in heroin smuggling but the police will investigate the matter.”

On November 18, the BSF and the counter-intelligence wing of the state police arrested three smugglers with 22-kg of heroin, a pistol and a Pakistani SIM. This was the biggest seizure in the state this year.

Troops noticed suspicious movement across the fence at the Bharopal BOP at about 10 am. The troops challenged the smugglers who turned aggressive.

JS OBEROI , BSF DIG