New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- Two suspected Pakistani infiltrators were shot dead by the Border Security Force after they allegedly tried to enter Indian territory along the international border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district in the early hours of Friday.
The incident occurred near the Rajoke Border Out Post in the Khalra sector of Tarn Taran. Sources said that BSF personnel had spotted some suspicious movement from Pakistani territory at around midnight while keeping vigil on the border.
Further, sources said that a group of suspected infiltrators had been seen trying to enter the country on the India-Pakistan border. The BSF personnel allegedly challenged them when they moved towards Indian territory and opened fire after the men refused to stop.
Two of the men were hit and killed on the spot, while their identity and nationality are yet to be confirmed. A search operation has been initiated by the security agencies to find out if there was anyone else who had crossed over during the incident.
Preliminary reports suggest that a third man might have escaped towards Pakistan, but this is yet to be confirmed.
The bodies have been taken into custody for identification and investigation. The BSF is also looking into if the two men were part of a larger network that was facilitating infiltration and smuggling across the border.
The Tarn Taran sector has been a flashpoint along the Punjab border due to repeated attempts at infiltration and smuggling of arms and narcotics across the border. Security agencies have in recent times beefed up efforts to keep watch on the Punjab frontier through ground surveillance, enhanced patrols and other measures.
The authorities have so far not confirmed if the two men were involved in smuggling narcotics or arms. This will only be established after the search operation is completed and the men's identities are verified.
The incident comes as security forces continue to remain on high alert to prevent infiltration and cross-border crimes along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. Further details are likely to emerge once the BSF completes its search and identifies the two men who were shot dead.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.