Pakistan played a direct role in mutilation of jawan's body in Machhil sector: Indian Army

Jammu: The Army on Monday said Pakistan had a “direct role” in the mutilation of a soldier’s body along the Line of Control in Machhil sector of Kupwara district on 22 November. “Refer to Machhil operation of November 22, where body of one soldier was mutilated, search leads to recoveries that indicate Pakistan’s complicity,” an army officer at the Udhampur-based Northern Command said in a statement. [caption id=“attachment_1824119” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Agencies.[/caption] Three soldiers were killed and the body of one of them was mutilated when infiltrators had ambushed an army patrol in the Machhil sector on 22 November. The eatables and other items recovered from the area show the marking of “Pakistan Defense Force”, “Pakistan standard” and the night vision that bears the seal of “Government Property”, which is made by the US and used by the Pakistan army, the officer said. “Three soldiers were killed in action on the LoC in Machhil. Body of one soldier mutilated, retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act,” Army had said after the killing. It was second incident of mutilation of soldier’s body in less than a month, triggering outrage. On 28 October, aided by the cover fire by Pakistani Army, terrorists had crossed the LoC and killed an army jawan and mutilated his body in Machhil sector. One attacker was killed in that incident. In June 2008, a soldier of the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles lost his way and was captured by a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) in Kel sector. His body was found beheaded few days later.