3 soldiers killed in J&K, body of 1 mutilated; Army vows revenge

Srinagar/New Delhi: The Army vowed “heavy retribution” after Pakistan’s troops killed three Indian soldiers and mutilated one of the bodies at Machhal sector in Kashmir’s Kupwara district along the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday.

The Army’s Northern Command tweeted: “3 soldiers killed in action on LoC in Machhal. Body of one soldier mutilated, retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act”. The gory incident, second of its kind in the same sector in less than a month, immediately sparked heavy shelling.

Army sources said the soldier whose body was mutilated was part of a counter-infiltration patrol party that was ambushed by a group of armed intruders, believed to be members of Pakistan’s ‘Border Action Team’ (BAT) or terrorists backed by it in Kashmir’s northernmost district.

The Army briefed defence minister Manohar Parrikar on the killings. “It is a numbers game now and it is just a question of a few days when we do what we have to do,” said an enraged Army official, adding that the operation is typical of Pakistan’s BAT which often operates with the militants along the LoC.

On October 29, infiltrating militants had mutilated the body of 30-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh, who was killed in a brief firefight with them along the LoC in the same sector. After mutilating the body, the militants ran back into Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, under cover fire provided by Pakistan’s Army, officials said.  In January 2013, the beheading of an Indian soldier and mutilation of another’s body in Mendhar sector of along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir Poonch district had left the two countries teetering on the brink of war.

Border brutality.

In June 2008, a soldier of the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles lost his way and was captured by a Pakistani’s BAT in Kel sector. His body was found beheaded a few days later.

Earlier on Tuesday, security forces gunned down two militants in Bandipora district. A cache of arms and ammunition were recovered, in addition to Rs 15,000 in cash, including two Rs 2,000 notes.

Meanwhile, a suspected Pakistani militant guide was shot dead by BSF troops near the International Border in Jammu, foiling an infiltration bid.

Tension between the neighbours and fatal border skirmishes involving the facing troops rose after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in a deadly  attack on an Army base in Uri in September 18, prompting India to launch a global diplomatic offensive, and carry out anti-terror surgical strikes across the LoC. The hostilities have claimed scores of civilian lives. Hundreds of families have been fleeing homes and relocating to safer places to escape border skirmishes. Local political groups and human rights activists have expressed concern over increasing civilian casualties.