Indian smuggler shot dead on border, Rs 50 cr drug seized

 An alleged Indian drug smuggler was shot dead and 10 kgm heroin, worth Rs 50 crore in the street market, was seized following a brief encounter along the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar sector.

The encounter took place last night in Khem Karan area of Amritsar.

Earlier the smuggler was mistaken as a Pakistani intruder due to the recovery of a mobile phone having a Pakistani SIM card, a BSF official said this evening.

"Later, the farmers working in the Khem Karan, which falls under the BSF Ferozepur Range, identified the deceased as Kuldip Singh Bhura alias Nihang who is an alleged Indian drug smuggler," he said.

It is presumed that the Indian smuggler had come to receive the consignment of 10 kgm heroin.

Besides the Samsung mobile with Pakistani SIM, a German made .30 mm calibre automatic pistol was also found on the spot, the BSF official said.

Last night, a group of Pakistani intruders entered into Indian territory through the Khem Karan sector. On being challenged by the BSF patrolling party, the intruders fired on the BSF personnel.

BSF troops retaliated leading to which the Indian smuggler was killed while others managed to flee to the other side of the border.

Bhura was a resident of Khem Karan area and had recently contested Municipal Council polls, due to which villagers easily identified him, BSF official said.