Amritsar, Jan 5 - A Pakistani "smuggler" who entered India early Tuesday was shot dead by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in a border area in Punjab while three others went back into Pakistan under the cover of darkness when the fighting started, officials said.

Contraband worth over Rs. 27 crore was recovered from his possession following the gunfight in Raja Taal area near Bhikiwind town, around 30 km from here.

"We have recovered 5.5 kg heroin, a pistol and fake Indian currency of worth Rs. 20 lakh from his bag," said BSF's Punjab Frontier Deputy Inspector General Jagir Singh.

"A Pakistan smuggler had entered the Indian territory taking advantage of dense fog in the wee hours today. After he did not pay heed to our repeated challenges, we had to open fire at him. During our search operation this morning, we found his dead body lying in bushes," Jagir Singh told IANS.

Sources in the BSF said the unidentified Pakistani was accompanied by three others but managed to get back into Pakistani taking advantage of darkness and dense fog.

They also fired at BSF patrolling unit in retaliation, an official said.

India has erected an electric barbed wire fence on its side of the 553-km India-Pakistan border in Punjab. (IANS)