BSF foils infiltration bid on Indo-Pak border

The Border Security Force foiled an infiltration bid by an alleged Pakistani group through the Harami Nala area of the Kutch district bordering Pakistan early on Saturday morning after a fierce gun battle, officials said.

The gunbattle continued for about three hours, they added.

This is the first incident, when infiltrators have opened fire on BSF men at Kutch border in the last five years, the BSF officials said.

"Infiltrators came from Pakistani side in two boats and when they were challenged by the BSF men, they fired on the post in the Harami Nala area early today (Saturday)," BSF Deputy Inspector General Vishnu Dutta said.

"Our men retaliated. The firing continued for about three hours after which infiltrators fled," Dutta added.

BSF officials said there was no injury on their side. But they do not know the number of infiltrators or if any of the infiltrators was injured or not.

Top BSF officials have reached Lakhpat to review the situation after the incident, as this is one of the rare incidents where infiltrators have opened fire on the BSF.

The Creek area, where Harami Nala is situated, is a very hostile terrain constituting of raised grounds having mangroves and a network of channels, which are quiet shallow and all movements are creek-dependent.