BSF recover weapons on Indo-Pak border, one arrested

Ferozpur, Sep 9 (UNI) The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled the sinister designs of Pakistan based militants to revive militantcy in Punjab by recovering a consignment of arms and ammunation along the Indo Pak border early this morning.

A smuggler of the area identified as Balkar Singh who had come to collect the weapons was taken into custody by the BSF near the border village of Ratto after an exchange of fire with armed intruders from across the border, BSF DIG Mohammed Akil told mediapersons here.

The recovered weapons included two AK-47 rifles alongwith 11 magazines, a mauser with two magazines, six pistols, a .12 bore gun and about 450 rounds of ammunation of different bores.

Giving details the DIG said that in the wee hours three intruders from Pakistan threw the weapons and ammunation across the barbed wire fence. BSF jawans on duty immediately opened fire and the exchange of fire lasted for a few minutes after which the intruders managed to flee back across the border, he added.

The BSF jawans while surveying the area nabbed Balkar Singh, a history sheeter who was arrested in 1994 under the Arms Act. On interrogation Balkar Singh revealed that he had come to collect the weapons.

The BSF after getting a case registered against Balkar Singh at Manawala police station arrested him. The DIG said that the arrested man was being interrogated.

The DIG claimed that intelligence outputs suggested that an attempt was being made by the Punjab militants sitting in Pakistan to revive militantcy and the seized consignment was part of that design. The Punjab Police had seized 3.50 kg RDX a few days back and arrested one person in this connection.

UNI