Three Indian soldiers were killed “in action” along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhal, Jammu and Kashmir, while the body of one soldier was mutilated, the Indian Army said on Tuesday.
Reacting to the incident, the Indian Army has vowed a befitting revenge, with the Northern Command promising “heavy retribution for the cowardly act”. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has been briefed about the situation by the Army.
Here’s all that we know so far:
- Initial reports suggest that the attack was carried out by Border Action Team which 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.
- The Indian Express reports that it isn’t clear yet how the three soldiers were seperated from the rest of the team and they may have walked into an ambush that was planned in all likelihood by Pakistan special forces and 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.
- Source said that the intruders who were hiding in jungle area (connected to Kel area of Pakistan), ambushed the patrol team and managed to escape after the attack.
- The Army says that the incident took place around 12 noon and heavy cross-Line of Control shelling started at four places in Machhil sector from 3.30 pm.
- According to reports, heavy firing was still on along the LoC.
- Earlier in the day, two alleged terrorists were killed by the Indian Army. Heavy artillery and new Rs 2,000 notes were recovered from them.
- This incident occurred a day after a head constable of the BSF was killed and five others were injured in firing by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC).
Seventeen soldiers have died in increased ceasefire violations by Pakistan since the surgical strikes. This is the second such incident of mutilation of an Indian soldier by Pakistan in a month’s time.
(With PTI inputs)