India, Pak troops exchange fire, infiltration bid foiled

Indian troops exchanged heavy gunfire with Pakistani forces overnight Saturday and foiled an infiltration bid by militants trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, officials said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) retaliated to the gunfire from Pakistani rangers at Ballad post in Samba sector, about 45 km southwest of Jammu at 11 pm on Friday.

"It was an infiltration bid by militants from across the LoC. The gunfire lasted for about 90 minutes. The BSF succeeded in foiling the infiltration attempt," a BSF official said.

Searches have been launched in the area to find out if there were any footprints of infiltrators on this side of the border.

A fortnight ago, two militants intruded from across the international border. They crossed over from Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, adjoining Punjab. The two were later killed in a gunfight with the Punjab police in a village in Gurdaspur district.