Indian Army suspects Pak BAT beheaded porter killed at LoC | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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Indian Army suspects Pak BAT beheaded porter killed at LoC

Jammu | ByPress Trust of India
Jan 12, 2020 11:53 AM IST

Asked about the killings by Pakistan, Army chief Gen MM Naravane said on Saturday that professional armies never resort to “barbaric” acts and they “will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner”.

Pakistan’s Border Action Team is suspected to have decapitated a porter, who was among two civilians killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Friday, officials said.

A defence spokesman said Mohammad Aslam (28) and Altaf Hussain (23) were killed and three others injured after being hit by a mortar shell by Pakistan Army.(PTI File Photo)
A defence spokesman said Mohammad Aslam (28) and Altaf Hussain (23) were killed and three others injured after being hit by a mortar shell by Pakistan Army.(PTI File Photo)

This is the first time that any civilian has been beheaded by BAT, which comprises Pakistani army regulars and terrorists, though similar incidents involving security personnel have taken place in the past, they said.

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The body of Mohammad Aslam (28) was badly mutilated and his head was missing, a senior police officer said.

Asked about the killings by Pakistan, Army chief Gen MM Naravane said on Saturday that professional armies never resort to “barbaric” acts and they “will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner”.

A defence spokesman had earlier said Aslam and Altaf Hussain (23), both residents of Kassalian village of Gulpur sector, were killed and three others injured after being hit by a mortar shell when Pakistani Army targeted a group of Army porters carrying logistics for troops in a forward area close the LoC on Friday.

However, officials said on Saturday that the head of one of the porters was missing and was believed to have been taken away by the BAT.

“The body of Aslam was headless when handed over to police for completion of legal formalities. The bodies of both porters were handed over to their families and their last rites were conducted in their villages on Friday evening,” the police officer said on condition of anonymity.

He said the injured porters —Mohamamd Saleem (24), Mohammad Showkat (28) and Nawaz Ahmad (35) — were undergoing treatment in the hospital and their condition was “stable”.

“We will deal appropriately with such situations in a military manner,” Gen Naravane said when asked about the incident during a press conference in the Capital ahead of the Army Day.

He said the Indian Army conducts itself in the most professional and ethical manner including on the LoC. “Professional armies never resort to barbaric acts,” he said.

Opposition Congress strongly condemned the killings and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh were “silent” on the “barbarism” by Pakistan.

“Is the news of martyrdom run taking into account the government in power?” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

“When will Pakistan’s cowardly acts be given a befitting reply? 10 heads for 1 when? Surjewala said on Twitter.

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