Jammu, Feb 1 (IANS): The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled 11 attempts by terrorists in January to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan, a senior BSF official has said.

"Eight of the bids were made in the last 15 days," the official told IANS here.

"The (terrorist) groups mostly consisted of six to eight heavily armed militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)," he added.

According to the official, the infiltration attempts were made even as Pakistani border guards shelled Arnia and R.S. Pura sectors.

The official said intelligence agencies believed that such attempts were likely to be made in the next few days as well.

"We are fully prepared to give them (militants) a hot reception," he said.

The official said there were 21 violations of the 2003 ceasefire by the Pakistan Rangers in the three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua during January.

Indiscriminate firing and mortar shelling by the Rangers last month killed two BSF troopers and a civilian. A dozen civilians were injured.

Public and private property was also damaged at many places along the border because of shelling, the official added.

The BSF is deployed along the international border that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The army guards the Line of Control (LoC).