The BSF shot dead five Pakistan intruders along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district early Saturday, the force said.

This is the highest number of intruders killed in a single incident along the over 3,300km-long border with Pakistan in more than a decade, officials said.

Punjab shares a 553-km frontier with Pakistan, apart from Jammu, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which together constitute the remaining part of the international border.

A BSF spokesperson said troops recovered nine packets containing over 9kg of heroin along with an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 27 rounds, four 9mm Berretta pistols with seven magazines and 109 live rounds, two mobile phones and Rs 610 in Pakistani currency.

The spokesperson said the force personnel “cordoned the area and challenged the intruders to stop and surrender” after suspicious activity was noticed near the border fence.

“The Pakistani armed intruders did not pay any heed to the challenge and opened fire on the BSF troops,” the official said. “Hence, to stop their further misadventure and in self-defence, the BSF troops retaliated with fire due to which the five Pakistani armed intruders succumbed to bullet injuries,” he said.

A senior BSF official said the exchange of fire began around 4.45am near the Dal border post, which is close to Bhikhiwind town of the district and is guarded by the 103rd battalion of the BSF under the Ferozepur sector.