India again blames Pakistan for mutilating bodies of soldiers

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) India on Tuesday again blamed Pakistan for the killing and mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir as the Indian DGMO raised the matter with his Pakistani counterpart.

Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt, in a call to his Pakistani counterpart, expressed "grave concern" over Monday's incident in Krishna Ghati sector, where the Pakistan Army targeted an Indian patrol on the Indian side of the Line of Control and mutilated the bodies of two soldiers.

"DGMO Indian Army conveyed that such inhuman act is beyond any norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response," said an Indian Army statement here.

The DGMO told his Pakistani counterpart that "full fire support" was provided by a Pakistani military post to the assailants.

"The Pakistani DGMO was also apprised that while undertaking this dastardly act, full fire support was provided by Pakistani Army Post located in vicinity of the incident site," the statement said.

Bhatt also expressed concern over the presence of training camps of the Border Action Team (BAT), made up of Pakistani military and the terrorists it trains, close to the vicinity of the LoC, it added.

Earlier, the Pakistani military has said that military officials at local level talked over a hotline to reduce tensions after New Delhi accused Pakistani troops of mutilating the bodies of two of its soldiers.

"A local commanders' level hotline contact was established at Rawlakot-Poonch sector on LoC (Line of Control) last night between the Pakistan and Indian Army authorities," Xinhua news agency quoted the Pakistan Army as saying.

"The Indian counterpart was told that there has been no CFV (ceasefire violation) from Pakistan side nor mutilation of Indian soldiers' bodies," a statement from the Army's Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The statement said the Indian authorities were told there was "unnecessary media hype" following the allegations against the Pakistani military.

"Pakistan remains fully committed to maintaining peace and tranquility along the LoC and expects same from other side and hopes prudence is exercised and no steps are taken that may lead to vitiating the environment and affect peace along the LoC," the statement said.