India today summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner to convey a “strong protest” over the Pakistani Army action in which two Indian soldiers were killed and their bodies subjected to “barbaric and inhuman mutilation” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Acccording to official sources, Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir was summoned by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, who made it clear that these incidents were “unacceptable” and that Pakistan has to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control.

During the 30-minute meeting, Bashir was told by Mathai that regular Pakistani soldiers had crossed the LoC at Mendhar sector and engaged with Indian troops who were patrolling this sector.

“Two Indian soldiers were killed in the attack and their bodies subjected to barbaric and inhuman mutilation. The Government of Pakistan was asked to immediately investigate these actions that are in contravention of international conduct and ensure that these will not recur,” Bashir was conveyed.

Pakistani soldiers had yesterday crossed into Indian territory and ambushed an Indian patrol killing two soldiers, one of whom was decapitated.

Army’s Additional Director General (Public Information) Major General S.L. Narasimhan said Northern Army Commander Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik had visited the scene of action and confirmed that one of the two bodies was mutilated.

Other sources had said yesterday that the heads of both the Indian soldiers — Lance Naiks, Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh — have been chopped off and one was taken away by Pakistani intruders.

Besides killing two, they also injured two other soldiers and took away their weapons and other belongings.

Army’s Udhampur-based Northern Command had come out with a statement terming the attack as a “significant escalation” to the continuing series of ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts supported by Pakistan Army.

“A group of their regular soldiers intruded across the Line of Control in the Mendhar sector on January 8. Pakistan army troops, having taken advantage of thick fog and mist in the forested area, were moving towards our posts when an alert area domination patrol spotted and engaged the intruders,” it had said.

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