The Army on Monday said that "it goes without saying" it will retaliate against Pakistan's ceasefire violations and when it does, "action will speak for itself."
"That (retaliation) goes without saying, I think I don't have to say that. Action will speak for itself," said Vice Chief of Army Staff Sarath Chand, reacting to a question on killing of four Indian soldiers in Pakistan shelling yesterday.
An army captain and three other soldiers lost their lives on Sunday when the Pakistani forces opened unprovoked firing and shelling along the LoC in the Bhimbher Gali sector of Rajouri district.
Government too seemed to be in no mood to spare Pakistan for the "foolish" act.
"We will not forgive Pakistan's actions. It will prove to be Pakistan's foolishness and will cost them dearly," Hansraj Ahir, Minister of State for Home Affairs, said.
While the Army hinted at action on the border, the bereaved families of slain soldiers mourned the loss of the four bravehearts who sacrificed their life in the service of the nation.
Mother of martyred Army Captain Kapil Kundu asked the government to conduct a second surgical strike on Pakistan to avenge the deaths of martyrs. "If my son had lived for another 10-20 years, he would have done more for his nation, but he could not," said the grieving mother Sunita Kundu. "Our son lived for the nation," the family members added.
Captain Kundu's mother shared that he was due to visit the family for his birthday on February 10 and had already booked his ticket for the journey.
Forty-two-year-old Havildar Roshan Lal, a resident of Samba district, 27-year-old Riflemen Ramavatar of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and Subham Singh (23) of J&K's Kathua district were also killed.
The mortars were fired by Pakistani troops and the Indian forces guarding the LoC responded, triggering an exchange of fire between the two sides, he said.
Pakistani troops carried out intense shelling along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from 18 January to 22 January.
While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since 22 January, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC.
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