In the second such barbaric incident following the Indian Army’s surgical strikes targeting terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, three jawans were martyred today during an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) with militants in Machhal Sector of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir.
In an act of extreme cowardice, the body of one of the martyred soldiers was mutilated by the terrorists. The region where the incident has been reported from falls opposite the Kel sector in PoK, the same region that was targeted by the Indian Army in its surgical strike.
Last month, a similar incident was reported from the same region when another Indian soldier was killed and his body mutilated by terrorists. On October 28, terrorists mutilated the body of 27-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh before running back into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, under cover fire provided by Pakistan army.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has confirmed the development and vowed of heavy retribution.
“3 soldiers killed in action on LC in Machhal. Body of one soldier mutilated, retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act,” the Northern Command of the Indian Army said in a statement put out on Twitter.
An Army official said that jawans are giving befitting reply to Pakistani troopers who have been continuously violating the ceasefire and targeting Indian posts.
As per senior Army source, the incident took place around 12 noon and that from morning Pakistani Army was continuously firing in the region. They even provided cover fire for mutilation. Terrorists were in plain cloth.
Source said that infiltrator, who was hiding in jungle area which is connected to Kel area of Pakistan, ambushed patrol team and run away with support of Pak Army.
The situation has been briefed to the Army HQ. Soon after this, Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen Bipin Rawat immediately briefed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Machhal attack. Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag is on China tour.
This was an attack on counter infiltration party, heavy shelling is the sector was reported in the morning as well.
It is reported that Pakistan has deployed Border Action Team (BAT) near border areas with Army giving them support from back. Snipers have also been deployed along the LoC by Pakistan.
Defence expert SP Sinha said that the act shows that a frustrated Pakistan does not follow or respect the ethics of war.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that the government should allow the Army to retaliate in the same manner so that Pakistan can’t dare to open fire at Indian soldiers.
“Daily our jawans are being killed in Pakistan’s firing. I ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow our Army to giving a befitting reply,” he said.
The news comes hours after two LeT militants were killed in an encounter in north Kashmir's Bandipora. Before this, a Pakistani intruder was killed in firing by the BSF along the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector of Jammu district.
Earlier on November 9, a soldier was killed in firing by the Pakistan Army in Machhal Sector.
Last month, the body of an Indian soldier, killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, was also mutilated by terrorists, who fled back to PoK under supporting fire cover by Pakistani troops.
There have been 286 incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC since the Indian Army conducted surgical strike in PoK, destroying several terror launchpads.
