Jammu, Dec 22 - The Border Security Force (BSF) had foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of militants who fired at Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramgarh sector in an attempt to sneak in, a senior official said Tuesday.

The Indian side retaliated and the exchange of fire went on past midnight. The firing, which could be both from militants and Pakistani Rangers, started around 7.30 p. m. Monday along the Ballad post in Ramgarh sector, about 45 km southwest of Jammu.

"It appeared to be an infiltration bid and we have effectively foiled it. The situation is now under control," said BSF Inspector General, Jammu frontier, A. K. Saroolia.

Police, BSF and army personnel are conducting extensive searches in the area to find if anyone succeeded in infiltrating into India.

In other similar incidents, a BSF soldier was killed and two injured in firing on a post at the Line of Control (LOC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, in Poonch district Saturday. Last month, a deputy inspector general of BSF was killed in a landmine explosion in the Ramgarh sector when he had gone to assess the situation after firing and an infiltration attempt by militants. (IANS)