Machil: 3 soldiers killed, 2nd soldier mutilated in a month; Indian Army vows 'heavy retribution'

Three Indian soldiers were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Machhal sector of Jammu & Kashmir along the Line of Control on 22 November. According to the Northern Command of Indian Army, the body of one of the soldiers was also found mutilated.

Commenting on the issue, the Army said that the repercussion to this will be heavy. According to sources, Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) is believed to be behind the attack.

Earlier in the day, two terrorists were neutralised by the Army. Heavy artillery and new Rs 2,000 notes were recovered from them.

Also Read: Indian jawan killed, body mutilated. But does Pak have more sinister plans?

The incident occurred a day after a head constable of the BSF was killed and five others were injured in firing by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

This is the second time that the mutilated body of an Indian soldier has been found from the same sector. Both the mutilated bodies were beheaded. Commenting on this, an Indian Army spokesperson toldCatch, "In an encounter close to the LoC in Machil sector, in the evening of 28 October 2016, one soldier has been martyred and one terrorist killed. In a despicable act, the terrorist mutilated the body of the Indian soldier before fleeing into the PoK, supported by covering fire from Pakistan Army posts."

"This barbarism is a true reflection which pervades official and non-official organisations across the border."

More than 25 Indian soldiers have been killed in cross-border firing since the Uri attack on 18 September and the attack son the Indian side has been increasing at an alarming rate.

Since then, the Indian Army has claimed to have destroyed terrorist launch pads in Pakistan held J&K. Pakistan Army, on their part, has claimed to have killed seven Indian soldiers in retaliation.

The Pak Army last week had claimed that they shot down an Indian drone in the Rakh Chakri sector along the LoC, to which New Delhi denied the claims.

Last year, Pakistan Army had also claimed to have shot down an Indian drone which it had claimed was being used by the Indian Army for spying on them.

Tweeting about this, General Asim Bajwa said: