New Delhi

Amid the raging controversy over a security lapse that forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel a visit to Hussainiwala this week, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday seized an abandoned Pakistani boat on the Sutlej river near the border outpost in Ferozepur district of Punjab.

Ferozepur is a sensitive district because of its proximity to the international border with Pakistan. In recent months, many drones from Pakistan had breached Indian air space in the district.

A senior BSF officer said that the wooden boat was spotted by a patrol team near the DT Mall border outpost along the international border.

"In winters, the area remained covered under thick fog. After the boat was recovered, we conducted a search operation in the area and alerted local villages to inform BSF in case they see any suspicious activity. Such boats are often used for smuggling of narcotics substance and arms from across the border," he said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stuck for 15-20 minutes due to a road blockade in Ferozepur after a security lapse.