Jammu, May 9 ( IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) Friday claimed to have thwarted a infiltration bid from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector.

A group of nearly a dozen infiltrators was sighted by BSF troops guarding the 187 km India-Pakistan border at 10.40 p.m. Thursday, said J.B. Sangwan, deputy inspector general of the BSF.

'When the infiltrators were challenged, they opened fire. There was back up fire as well. We didn't know if that was from the group of infiltrators or Pakistani Rangers,' Sangwan told IANS.

'We retaliated and it lasted for 15-20 minutes,' he said, adding that the intruders ran back into Pakistani territory.

Asked if this meant that there was a breach of ceasefire, holding on since Nov 26, 2003, the BSF officer said: 'We don't have evidence that Pakistani Rangers were involved in the fire, so I cannot say anything on this issue.'

The police have mounted extra vigil in the border areas as a 'precaution'.