India, Pakistan DGMOs exchange fire over mutilation of soldiers, martyr's daughter seeks revenge: Top developments

As DGMO of Indian Army raised the issue of mutilation of Indian soldiers near LoC, his Pakistan counterpart denied the allegations and demanded actionable evidence.

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India, Pakistan DGMOs exchange fire over mutilation of soldiers, martyr's daughter seeks revenge: Top developments

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New Delhi,UPDATED: May 2, 2017 21:12 IST

A day after two Indian soldiers were mutilated by the Border Action Team (BAT) of the Pakistan Army, DGMO of the Indian Army called the act dastardly and beyond any norm of civility. He said such acts demand unequivocal condemnation and response.

Talking to his counterpart in Pakistan over hotline, Lt General A K Bhatt raised concern over presence of BAT training camps near the Line of Control (LoC).

Pakistan, however, continued to deny its role in the barbaric act of mutilation of soldiers' bodies, and demanded proof of its army violating the Line of Control.

Pakistan DGMO accused Indian troops of targeting innocent civilians along the Line of Control and said that such action would invite appropriate response.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TOP DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY:

The families of martyrs demanded that the Indian government sends out a strong message to Pakistan against the brutal killing of Indian soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector near the Line of Control.
BSF head constable Prem Sagar's daughter Saroj was quoted by ANI as saying that her family wants "50 heads for his sacrifice". Lance Naik Hemraj's mother said, "The government had promised that they will behead 10 people if they beheaded one of ours, till now nothing has been done." Hemraj was beheaded by Pakistan's BAT at Krishna Ghati sector in January 2013.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation along the Line of Control. Rajnath Singh earlier met Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra and discussed law and order situation in the state.
BSF ADG Western Command K N Choubey said taking advantage of the firing from the Pakistan side, the BAT mutilated the bodies of the two soldiers. The officer said that the BSF and the Army will brainstorm and revise their standard operating procedures (SoPs) to ensure that similar incidents do not take place in future.
DGMO, Indian Army Lt General A K Bhatt spoke to his counterpart in Pakistan and raised concern about presence of BAT training camps in close vicinity of Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
According to sources, the Indian DGMO in his hotline contact with Pakistan counterpart Major General Sahir Shamshad asked Pakistan to shut down BAT training camps active in PoK. Pakistan has been told categorically that such a dastardly act merits a befitting response.
"We have inputs that the Pakistan Army beheaded our personnel by firing around 50 rockets followed by heavy mortar shelling at our posts, which created thick smoke in the area. By the time the soldiers could recover, the trained Mujahid battalion of the Pakistanis beheaded them", the DGMO said.
Intelligence agencies have identified 4-5 active camps along the LoC in PoK. Camps are located 10-15 km from LoC.
SSG teams of the Pakistan Army reportedly conducted training in these BAT camps last month. There is strength of around 40 personnel in each of the BAT camps.
According to top Army sources, more terror attacks are likely in the near future. The army is moving more troops from south of the Pir Panjal range to the Valley and other areas. This has prompted a change in the counter-insurgency grid.
Four BAT actions have been foiled in recent months. The Army has made new plans to foil BAT action, for which special instructions have been issued to local commanders.
Pakistan denied the allegations of its army violating ceasefire and mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers. Asking India to produce "actionable evidence", Pakistan DGMO said, "Pakistan Army is a professional military outfit... allegations of mutilation are an Indian attempt to divert attention of world from the situation within the Valley".
Pakistan DGMO accused Indian troops of continuously targeting innocent civilians on LoC and told his Indian counterpart that continuity of such action would invite appropriate response.
Political reactions came in throughout the day. Former defence minister A K Antony said that the Indian Army should be given a free hand to reply to the barbaric attack. The morale of the Army is low, said the Congress leader, adding that everything should be done to retain their dignity.