Pakistani forces cross LoC, mutilate bodies of two Indian security personnel; Indian Army vows 'appropriate' response to 'despicable act'

The mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan is an act of barbarism and the armed forces will react to it appropriately, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday.

New Delhi/Jammu: The Pakistani Army on Monday killed an Indian soldier and a BSF trooper and mutilated their bodies near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

The dead were identified as Naik Subedar Paramjit Singh of 22 Sikh Regiment and Head Constable Prem Sagar of BSF's 200 Battalion. 

The Indian Army vowed an "appropriate" response to the "despicable act", which significantly took place a day after Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited some areas along the LoC and promised support to the Kashmiris.

The attack was carried out by the Border Action Team (BAT), which comprises the special forces, under the cover of shelling by Pakistani troops in Krishna Ghati sector.

The Army issued a statement saying that the bodies of an army soldier and a BSF head constable were mutilated but a senior army officer told PTI that they were beheaded.

Incident Krishna Ghati Sector . Statement attached. pic.twitter.com/yyNFqCEHDm

— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) May 1, 2017

A BSF constable Rajinder Singh was injured but is out of danger.

The BAT team had set up an ambush to target the patrol party of the Indian soldiers while the Pakistan Army engaged two Indian forward defence locations (FDL) with rockets and mortar bombs, the officials said.

"It was a pre-planned operation of the Pakistan Army. They had pushed in BAT teams over 250 meters deep inside Indian territory and set up ambushes for a long period to carry out the attack," a senior army official said.

"The Pakistani army posts attacked two FDL posts with rockets and mortar bombs at 0830 hours and engaged them," the official said.

"Their target was a 7 to 8 member patrol party, which had come out of the post," the official said.

He said as the posts were engaged, the patrol party men ran here and there.

"Two members of the patrol party, who were left behind, were attacked by the BAT team and killed. Their bodies were badly mutilated," the official said.

A #BSF trooper and an army personnel martyred on Jammu LC facing unprovoked Pak fire . They were deployed on an FDL in Mendhar area.

— BSF (@BSF_India) May 1, 2017

"Pakistani Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati Sector," a defence ministry spokesman confirmed.

Jaitley

"Simultaneously, a BAT (Border Action Team) action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts," said a statement issued by the Northern Army Command.

According to reports, at 0825 hours, Pakistani Army's 647 Mujahid Battalion targeted India's forward post 'Kirpan' from its post 'Pimple' in Krishna Ghati sector.

It was followed by attack on another forward post in the same area.

The Indian troops retaliated and the firing continued for some time intermittently.

Pakistan Army's action barbaric: Jaitley

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the Army would "react appropriately" to Pakistan's "extreme form of barbaric act".

"The sacrifices of the soldiers will not go in vain," he said.

The Act of killing & mutilating the bodies of two of our soldiers is the most reprehensible & barbaric. The sacrifice will not go in vain.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 1, 2017

We have fullest confidence in our Armed forces who will react appropriately.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 1, 2017

Pak denies:

On the other hand, the Pakistani Army denied violating the 2003 ceasefire on the LoC and mutilating the Indian soldiers' bodies.

"Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on LoC or a BAT action as alleged by India. Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers' bodies are also false. Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier, even Indian," they said, as per IANS.  

A similar statement was issued by the Pakistani Foreign Office.

(With Agency inputs)