Amritsar, Oct 26 (IANS): At least three Pakistani smugglers were killed by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers along the India-Pakistan international border in Amritsar sector of Punjab, BSF sources said Saturday.

The troopers also recovered 24 kg heroin, valued at Rs.120 crore in the international market, one AK-47 rifle and a pistol.

Officials said that the shootout took place in the early hours of Saturday when alert BSF troopers noticed some movement at the electrified barbed wire fence on the international border near Mullankot border out post.

The troopers accosted the intruders, who were inside India territory. A shootout ensued as the intruders fired at the BSF following which the troopers fired back.

The bodies of the intruders, the contraband and the weapons were recovered Saturday morning.

The BSF has recovered nearly 285 kg of heroin along the Indo-Pakistan international border in the first 10 months of this year. They had recovered nearly 290 kg heroin in the area in 2012.