Pak mutilates bodies of 2 Indian soldiers killed in Poonch firing

Jammu, May 1

Pakistan on Monday mutilated the bodies of the two Indian soldiers killed in firing along the Line of Control in Poonch district. 

An army JCO and a BSF head constable were killed and another soldier was injured as Pakistan fired rockets at a forward defence location (FDL) post of the paramilitary force along the LoC in Poonch.

The army condemned the Pakistani action as despicable.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Condemning the act, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said: "Two of our soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch have been killed and their bodies mutilated by our neighbours. This is a reprehensible and an inhuman act. Such attacks don't even take place during war, let alone peace. 

“Bodies of soldiers being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act. The Government of India strongly condemns this act and the whole country has full confidence and faith in our armed forces which will react appropriately to this inhuman act. The sacrifice of these soldiers will not go in vain,” Jaitley said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office has denied Pakistan Army's hand.

“Pak Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on LoC or a BAT action in Buttal sector (Indian Krishna Ghatti Sector) as alleged by India. The Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers' bodies is also false,” Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations wing said in a statement.

“Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even Indian,” it added.

The ceasefire violation took place around 8.30 am. A junior commissioned officer of the army and a BSF head constable were killed in the attack, a senior officer of the paramilitary force said.

“At about 8.30 am, there was heavy firing from Pakistani (army) posts at the BSF posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district with rockets and automatic weapons,” the officer said.

Another BSF jawan was injured in the firing.

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

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

The deceased are naib subedar Paramjeet Singh of the army and head constable Prem Sagar of the BSF. The injured has been identified as constable Rajinder Singh of the BSF.

Troops guarding the border line retaliated effectively, the officer said.

Pakistani troops breached the truce along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri sectors seven times last month.

They violated the ceasefire in Poonch sector on April 19 and shelled mortars on forward posts in Noushera sector on April 17.

Pakistan had resorted to firing in the same sector on April 8, in Poonch district on April 5, in Bhimbher Gali (BG) sector on April 4 and twice on April 3 in Balakote and (Digwar) Poonch sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint press briefing on Monday that fighting terrorism was their common vision. Agencies