3 soldiers killed on LoC, body of one mutilated; Army says retribution will be heavy

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 22

Three soldiers were killed and body of one of them was mutilated at Machil sector in Jammu & Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara on Tuesday. 

While Army said the jawans were killed close to the Line of Control in “action”, sources said there was a possibility the action may have been carried out by BAT (Border Action Team) with support of Pakistani Army. 

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"A counter-infiltration patrol party of Indian Army was ambushed by terrorists ahead of the fencing along LoC in forest belt in Machhil sector in Kupwara district today," a senior Army officer said.

Three soldiers were killed in the attack, he said, adding the body of one of them was mutilated. 

The slain soldiers have been identified as Manoj K Kushwah (31), Prabhu Singh (25) and Shashank K Singh (25).

Manoj Kumar Kushwah hailed from Daddupur village, Gazipur district, Uttar Pradesh.

Prabhu Singh belonged to Khirjankhas village in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, while Shashank Kumar hailed from Nasiruddin Pur village, Gazipur district, Uttar Pradesh.

The army has vowed to revenge soldiers killings. 

“Three soldiers killed in action on LC in Machhal. Body of one soldier mutilated, retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act,” Army's Northern Command said in a tweet.

#JKOps 3 soldiers killed in action on LC in Machhal. Body of one soldier mutilated, retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act @adgpi

— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) November 22, 2016

Sources said the firing took place at Kumgari near Shalabatu at around 1 pm.

This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier on the LoC since October 28.

On that day, terrorists, aided by the cover fire by Pakistani Army, had crossed the Line of Control and killed an Indian army jawan and mutilated his body in the Machil sector. One attacker was killed in that incident.

Earlier, the Pakistani military said Indian firing killed at least four Pakistani nationals and injured 10 others in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC).

"There are reports of heavy casualties of Indian soldiers due to effective retaliatory fire by Pakistani troops," a statement from the ISPR said late Monday.

Meanwhile, a defence spokesman said heavy cross-LoC shelling was going on at four places in Machil sector from 3.30 pm.

"Around 1530 hour, heavy cross LoC shelling has started from both sides at Dana Machil, Ashni, Ringsar and Ringsar Payeen in Machil sector of Kupwara district," the spokesman said. He did not give any further details.— With agencies