Vigil along LoC beefed up: AK Antony

Vigil along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has been stepped up following last month's ambush by Pakistani Army on Indian troops in which two jawans were killed, government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"On January 8, a Pakistan Border Action Team ambushed our patrol party in Krishna Ghati, Mendhar Sector in which Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj were killed. Lance Naik Hemraj was found beheaded and both bodies were mutilated," Defence Minister AK Antony said.

In a written reply, he said that the weapons of the two jawans were also taken by Pakistani Army.

On whether Government has taken up the issue with their Pakistani counterpart, Antony said a Brigade-level Flag Meeting of both the sides was held on Jan 14.

"The issue was protested through the DGMO talks on January 9 and 16, Brigade Commander-level Flag Meeting at Chakan Da Bagh on January 14 and hotline messages at the local levels," he said.

The issue was also taken up with Pakistan through diplomatic channels.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir on Jan 9 and lodged a strong protest on the actions of the Pakistan Army.

He also conveyed that barbaric acts of mutilation of the bodies of our soldiers is unacceptable and against the ethos of soldiering, Antony said.

On efforts taken made by India to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future, he said, "Heightened vigil is being maintained along the Line of Control in J&K and surveillance, including human intelligence and technical intelligence, has been further enhanced."

To another question, Antony said that 93 ceasefire violations have been reported along the LoC by Pakistan in year 2012.

Asked till when India will continue ceasefire and have trust in Pakistan, Antony said, "Government takes all necessary measures to uphold the sanctity of LoC. All confidence building measures are taken. The Army retaliates firmly and appropriately to all such ceasefire violations."

He also informed the Upper House that, "There has been 14 ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army since the Brigade Commander-level Flag Meeting on 14th Jan. Pakistan fired small arms, medium and heavy automatic weapons and 82 mm mortars during these ceasefire violations."

The ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the LoC and International Border in J&K which came into effect on November 25-26, 2003 has been violated by Pakistan from time to time, he said.