Friday, 1 March 2013


LoC vigil beefed up: A K Antony
New Delhi, Feb 27: Vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has been stepped up following last month’s “ambush by Pakistani Army on Indian troops” in which two soldiers were killed, government told the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
“On Jan 8, a Pak 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 A K Antony said. In a written reply, he said that the weapons of the two soldiers 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 Jan 9 and 16, Brigade Commander-level Flag Meeting at Chakan Da Bagh on Jan 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 Pakistani actions. “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,” he said. 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 since the Brigade Commander-level Flag Meeting on 14 January. Pakistan fired small arms, medium and heavy automatic weapons and 82 mm mortars during these ceasefire violations.”

Source: PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

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