The Indian Army has warned of approprite response to the reports of two jawans being killed and their bodies mutilated by the Pakistan army. Photo for representation.
In a provocative attack, Pakistani soldiers on Monday crossed into the Indian territory near Line of Control (LoC) in Krishan Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir killing two Indian soldiers and mutilating their bodies.
Army Northern Command in a statement said Pakistan army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector. “Simultaneously, a BAT action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts. In an un-soldierly act by the Pak army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated,” the statement said. Warning that they will avenge the Pakistani action, the Army said, “Such despicable act of Pakistan army will be appropriately responded.”
Three more soldiers, who were injured in Pakistani firing, have been shifted to hospitals, officials said. The slain soldiers have been identified as JCO Subedar Paramjeet Singh of 22 Sikh Infantry and Havaldar Pram Sagar of 200th Battalion of BSF.
Sources told DH the ambush, carried out by the Border Action Team (BAT) of the Pakistan army, took the Indian troops by surprise. “As heavy firing from Pakistani side was going on, the BAT wearing black combat uniform crossed over the LoC and mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers,” they said.
The BAT, besides Pakistani Army regulars, consists of commandos and dreaded terrorists from Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad outfits.
“The BAT managed to escape from the spot after carrying out the deadly attack. As Indian posts are closer to Pakistan in Krishana Ghati sector, the rugged terrain and thicker forests gives infiltrators an advantage to escape,” sources added.
This was the second such attack in the same area as earlier on January 8 2013, Pakistani BAT had decapitated bodies of two Indian soldiers - Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh after entering into Indian territory in Krishna Ghati sector.
During the Kargil war in 1999, Captain Saurabh Kalia, soldiers Arjunram Baswana, Mula Ram Bidiasar, Naresh Singh Sinsinwar, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria and Bhika Ram Mudh of the 4 Jat Regiment were captured by Pakistani troops and brutally tortured to death.
The latest attack comes a day after Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the LoC and said his country would continue to support the “political struggle” of the Kashmiris for the right of “self-determination.”