Pakistani forces killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies along the Line of Control on Monday morning, the army’s Northern Command said while promising to “appropriately respond” to the “despicable act”.
The Pakistani side opened fire on the Indian posts in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, and members of their Border Action Team (BAT) attacked a patrol party, the Indian Army’s Northern Command said in a statement.
“Pak army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati Sector... Simultaneously a BAT (border action team — an amalgam of terrorists and Pakistan army regulars) action was launched on a patrol operating between the two posts. In an unsoldierly act by the Pak army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated,” the statement said.
{{/usCountry}}“Pak army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati Sector... Simultaneously a BAT (border action team — an amalgam of terrorists and Pakistan army regulars) action was launched on a patrol operating between the two posts. In an unsoldierly act by the Pak army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated,” the statement said.
{{/usCountry}}The Indian government strongly condemns this barbaric act and the country has full confidence and faith in the armed forces, which will react appropriately, defence minister Arun Jaitley said.
“This is a reprehensible and an inhuman act. Such attacks don’t happen even during a war, let alone peace … The sacrifice of these soldiers will not go in vain.”
Pakistan, however, said its army was not involved in any ceasefire violation, adding India’s blame of “mutilating Indian soldiers is also false”.
Earlier, army sources identified Naib subedar Paramjit Singh, a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and Border Security Force head constable Prem Sagar as the dead. Two other BSF soldiers on patrol with them survived .
The firing began at 8.25am, they said, identifying Pakistan’s 647 Mujahid Battalion deployed on the forward defence line as the source.
Four rocket-propelled grenades and three to four bursts of automatic weapons were fired on Kripan-1, manned by the BSF’s 200 Battalion.
Indian troopers at Kripan-1 retaliated with automatic weapons at 8.40am, officials said. The firing lasted till 9am.
BSF head constable Prem Sagar belongs to Deoria district in UP. One of the injured was identified as BSF constable Rajender Kumar, while the identity of the fourth trooper, who received minor injuries, is yet to be revealed.
India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC but it is violated frequently. Pakistani troops routinely target Indian posts, often — Indians officials say — to give cover to militants trying to cross over.