Gandhinagar, Dec 26 (IANS) For the first time in years, there was a heavy exchange of fire between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistani intruders in the Sir Creek area of Kutch early on Saturday, officials said.

According to the BSF, there was heavy firing on a newly established post from a boat which had entered the Harami Nala – which takes its name from the treacherous nature of the waterway – from the Pakistani side around midnight, perhaps prompted by the fact that the post had become an unforeseen obstruction to a pre-planned infiltration attempt.

‘There was an intelligence input of such a probability through the Harami Nala and the post had been established with the precise aim of thwarting any such attempt,’ a BSF source said.

BSF troopers retaliated when a second boat, following the first one, also opened fire on the post. The exchange of fire continued for over three hours before the two boats retreated into Pakistani waters.

No casualty was reported on the Indian side, while those on the other side were not known. Intelligence agencies have been alerted, as well as police in the area, to look out for possible intruders. Combing operations were also in progress.

Harami Nala, which meanders in and out of the territories of the two countries, has been a point of infiltration and requires considerable monitoring by the BSF.