Daughter of BSF trooper mutilated wants 50 heads in revenge

A day after two Indian soldiers were mutilated by Pakistan Army in the Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC), the families of martyrs have demanded a stern reply from the Indian government against the barbaric act.

BSF head constable Prem Sagar's daughter Saroj was quoted by ANI as saying that the family wants "50 heads for his sacrifice". Forty five-year-old Prem Sagar belonged to Takenpur in Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh.

Mother of Lance Naik Hemraj, whose body was mutilated by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) along the LoC in 2013, called on the Centre to step up and retaliate such attacks.

The DGMOs of India and Pakistan today spoke over hotline where the former expressed grave concern over the Krishna Ghati incident and the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers. DGMO, Indian Army said that "such dastardly and inhuman act is beyond any norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response".

Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony said that government must give free hand to the Army to reply to the "barbaric attack".

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The demand by families of martyrs comes in the backdrop of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley briefing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation along the Line of Control. This was preceded by a meeting between Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra with Jaitley on law and order and security conditions in the state.

On Monday, Pakistan denied role in the mutilation of Indian soldiers along the Line of Control and maintained that it did not commit ceasefire violation. A day later, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit evaded the question on mutilation of soldiers. Pakistan has demanded proof of its army violating the Line of Control.

Lance Naik Hemraj's mother was quoted  as saying, "They beheaded my son and now we are witnessing numerous incidences every day. The government had promised that they will behead 10 people if they beheaded one of ours, till now nothing has been done".

It was at the Krishna Ghati



sector where the Pakistani BAT had beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj and also severed the head of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles on January 8, 2013.

Lance Naik Hemraj's mother said the government must now take stern action against Pakistan adding that the government has to understand the pain of a parent on losing her child.

Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh of 22 Sikh Regiment was the other martyr in Monday's ceasefire violation by Pakistan. At his home town in Tarn Taran in Punjab, his brother said Paramjit Singh had plans to shift to his newly-built house. "Now, his body will enter the house," he said.

Paramjit Singh's daughter Simrandeep said, "My father got martyred for the country. (I am) proud of him". As Paramjit Singh's remains reached Tarn Taran, his family demanded that they be shown his body.

The mutilation of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan's Border Action Team has led to many experts asking if India has a strategy to deal with this brutal and barbaric arm of the Pakistan Army.

BSF ADG Western Command K N Choubey said the BSF and the Army will brainstorm and come out with revised standard operating procedures (SoPs) to check similar incidents in future.

Taking advantage of the firing from the Pakistan side side, the BAT (Border Action Team) mutilated bodies of two soldiers, BSF ADG, Western Command said.

The DGMOs (director general of military operations) of India and Pakistan spoke over hotline regarding the situation along the Line of Control.

DGMO Lt General AK Bhatt spoke to his Pakistan counterpart and expressed grave concern about the Krishna Ghati incident and the manner in which the patrol unit was targeted. He raised the issues of fire support provided by the Pakistani posts, and BAT training camps near the Line of Control.

Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony said that the Army should be given a free hand to reply to the barbaric attack on Indian soldiers. "The morale of the Army is low, and thus everything should be done to retain the dignity of the force," he said.