Srinagar/Jammu: Three Indian soldiers were killed and body of one of them was mutilated by Pakistan troops on the Line of Control in Machhail Sector of Kashmir while BSF shot dead an intruder along the International Border (IB) in R S Pura Sector of Jammu on Tuesday.
This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier on the LoC since October 29.
“Three soldiers killed in action on LC (Line of Control) in Machhail. Body of one soldier mutilated,” the Army said. It said the “retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act”.
The three slain soldiers were: 25-year-old Prabhu Singh of Khir Jamkhas village in Shergarh tehsil of Rajasthan, 31- year-old K Kushwah of Daddupur, Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh and 25-year-old Shashank K Singh of Nasirudinpur in Mohamadabad tehsil of Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.
Body of Prabhu Singh was mutilated, army sources said.
Meanwhile, a defence spokesman said heavy cross-Line of Control shelling was going on at four places in Machhail sector from 3.30 PM.
“Around 3.30 PM, heavy cross LoC shelling has started from both sides at Dana Machhil, Ashni, Ringsar and Ringsar Payeen in Machhail sector of Kupwara district,” the spokesman said.
He did not give any further details.
In New Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was briefed by Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen Bipin Rawat on the killing of three soldiers, body of one of whom was mutilated.
Defence Ministry sources said Lt Gen Rawat briefed the Minister in detail.
This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier on the LoC since October 29.
“Three soldiers killed in action on LC (Line of Control) in Machhail. Body of one soldier mutilated,” the Army said.
It said the “retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act”.
In another incident a Pakistani intruder was killed in firing by the BSF along the International Border (IB) in R S Pura sector on Tuesday.
A suspicious person from Pakistan crossed the IB and taking cover of thick fog reached near the border fencing this morning, a senior BSF officer said.
He was challenged by BSF troops and was fired upon when he did not pay heed, the officer said.
The intruder was killed and search operation is on in the area, he said.
Meanwhile, two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said.
“Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter in Bandipora,” a police official said. He said acting on specific intelligence input about presence of militants in Hajin village of Bandipora, security forces launched a search operation in the area.
The official said as the forces were conducting the search operation, militants fired upon them leading to an encounter in which two militants have been killed.
Further details of the operation were awaited, the official said. Two weapons have been recovered from the encounter site. “Two weapons have been recovered along with other war-like stores,” the official said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the militants was being ascertained.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh expressed anguish over the killing of three soldiers by Pakistan troops.
Reacting strongly over killings of soldiers, Dr Singh said that it is cowardly act by Pakistan forces and the incident reflected the barbaric attitude of forces on the other side of border.
In his condolence message, Deputy Chief Minister prayed for peace to the departed souls and conveyed his condolence to the bereaved families.