- ‘Pak army’s BAT team conducted cross-LoC raid’
- ‘Appropriate response to be given for the despicable act’
Pakistan army’s Border Action Team (BAT) conducted cross-LoC raid in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district on Monday and killed two soldiers and mutilated their bodies, said Indian army while vowing appropriate response.
Three other security men were also injured in the attack.
“Pakistan Army’s BAT team crossed LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch and laid an ambush. The Pakistani troops fired rockets and mortars towards two forward posts of army in the sector. The fire was returned by the army men,” defence sources said.
They said a joint party of army and BSF conducted patrol between the two posts. “While they were conducting patrol, they came under attack of BAT team, which had sneaked into this side of LoC and had laid an ambush”.
Sources said the BAT team comprising Pakistani commandos attacked the army patrol with sharp edged weapons, grenades and small arms.
“In the BAT attack, two security men were killed and three others critically injured. Before the additional forces could reach the area, the Pakistan army’s BAT team returned back to PaK but not before mutilating bodies of the slain security men,” they said.
Defence sources said after firing on their posts, army men apprehended that Pakistan Army had breached the border ceasefire with the intention of facilitating infiltration of militants.
“However, they did not expect that a trap was laid by Pak Army’s BAT team, which had crossed over to this side,” they said.
The deceased were identified as Army Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh and BSF’s Head Constable Prem Sagar.
Soon after killing of two security men, Army men fired heavily towards positions of Pakistani troops on other side of the LoC.
The firing from both sides continued for over an hour. Later, the guns fell silent.
Army’s Northern Command spokesperson confirmed the BAT attack.
“Pakistan Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts in KG Sector on LoC. Simultaneously, a BAT team of Pakistan army launched attack on a patrol party operating in between the two posts,” he said.
The spokesman said in an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan Army the bodies of two of our security men, who were part of the patrol, were mutilated.
“Such despicable act of Pakistan army will be appropriately responded,” he added.
The incident evoked a sharp reaction with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley saying such attacks do not even take place during war and India has full faith in the armed forces.
“Bodies of army men being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act. Government of India strongly condemns this act. The whole country has full faith in our armed forces which will react appropriately to the act,” Jaitley said.
