India accuses Pakistani troops of mutilating bodies of two soldiers

srinagar — The Indian army accused Pakistan of killing two of its soldiers and mutilating their bodies in an “unprovoked” rocket and mortar attack in the tense border region.

The Indian army said in a statement that Pakistani troops attacked a patrol operating between two border posts on the de facto frontier known as the Line of Control in the remote Himalayan region.

“In an unsoldierly act by the Pak Army the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated,” the statement said, warning of an “appropriate response”.

In a statement, the Pakistani army denied responsibility for the cross-border attack, saying the mutilation claims were also false.

“Pakistan Army is a high professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even Indian,” the statement said.

But India’s defence minister Arun Jaitley said the incident was “the handiwork of a neighbouring nation”.

“Such acts are unheard of even during wars and definitely never in peace time,” he said in a statement broadcast on Indian television. “The entire country has full faith in the army. The sacrifices of the soldiers will not go in vain They will give the appropriate response.”

Kashmir Valley has been roiled by violence in recent months, with security forces opening fire on stone-throwing protesters. —