Amritsar, Dec 27 : The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 13 packets of heroin weighing over 5 kilograms in Amritsar sector along the Indo-Pak border, an official said Thursday.

BSF troops, who were on patrol duty at Border Out Post in Bharopal village during the night hours on Wednesday, noticed suspicious movement of Pakistani smugglers, he said.

The jawans challenged the smugglers, but they managed to escape towards Pakistani side taking advantage of dense fog and undulating ground, the BSF official said, adding the area was cordoned off immediately by the troops.

Early in the morning, extensive search and combing operation was launched in the area and 13 packets of heroin weighing 5.610 kg, which were hidden in a plastic bag and tied to a brick, were recovered, the official said.

He said the Pakistani smugglers wanted to push the consignment of the contraband items into the Indian territory.

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Kolkata (PTI): The Calcutta High Court has requested the Election Commission to address the TMC's complaint that a police observer in South 24 Parganas district for the assembly polls met a BJP candidate in violation of norms.

The TMC prayed for the removal of the said officer from the role of police observer in four assembly constituencies -- Magrahat Purba, Magrahat Paschim, Diamond Harbour and Falta.

The EC stated before the court that the observer met the candidate in an official capacity at the designated conference room for meetings at a state government-owned tourist lodge in Diamond Harbour, and there was nothing confidential about it as alleged by the petitioner.

Justice Krishna Rao, after hearing the parties in the matter last week, "requested" the Election Commission of India to dispose of the complaint filed by the TMC and to communicate the order to the petitioner.

The TMC alleged in the petition that during his stay at the tourist lodge, the officer held a private and unofficial meeting with the candidate fielded by the BJP from the Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency.

Senior advocate D S Naidu, representing the Election Commission, stated before the court that sub-clause 3 of Clause 3 of the Observer’s Handbook provides that for all purposes, a police observer would act as the eyes and ears of the ECI during the period of election and provide direct input to the commission.

He stated before the court that a police observer has to meet the public as well as the candidates and to submit a report to the Commission.

Naidu further submitted that the TMC's allegation that the police observer in question met with the BJP candidate in a personal manner is baseless, as he met the said candidate in an official capacity along with others.