Three jawans killed, one mutilated in Pak attack

Pakistani forces resorted to unprovoked firing at Machil sector in Jammu & Kashmir's frontier district of Kupwara today, killing three soldiers on the Indian side and, in a repeat of the dastardly act, the enemy also left the body of one of the dead mutilated.

This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier on the LoC since 29 October.

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

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

The firing is reported to have taken place at Kumgari near Shalabatu at around 1 pm.

Earlier, the Pakistani military had 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 on Monday.

According to initial reports, the attack was carried out by BAT (border action team), which typically consists of terrorists and Pakistan Army regulars. The same group was believed to be involved in the beheading of an Indian soldier Manjeet Singh, last month.

Pakistan has a long and dubious track record of blatant disregard to international norms when it comes to combat.

Saurabh Kalia, an Indian Army captain was captured by Pakistan army during the Kargil War in 1999. He was held in captivity for 22 days, where he was subjected to third degree torture – body burnt; eardrums were pierced with blazing iron rods; eyes were punctured before removal; teeth, bones, and skulls were broken; limbs and private organs were sliced off; and were finally shot dead after multiple rounds of fire. His mutilated body was handed over to India on 9 June 1999. 

Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, were killed by terrorists and their bodies were found mutilated on 8 January 2013.