Surprise element helped BAT to kill, mutilate: BSF

Jammu, May 2 (IANS) The BSF said on Tuesday that the surprise element helped Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) to kill two Indian soldiers and "mutilate" their bodies on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the surprise attack by Pakistani troops on Monday, the Indian Army and the BSF will revise the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) on the Line of Control to avert such losses, a senior officer said.

BSF Additional Director General Kamal N. Choubey told reporters here that there was a possible link between the Monday beheading and the Sunday visit of Pakistan Army chief Qamar Bajwa to the LoC.

"Everybody knows this incident took place immediately after the visit of the Pakistan Army chief."

An Indian Army soldier and a BSF Head Constable were killed and their bodies "mutilated" after Special Forces of the Pakistan Army sneaked about 250 metres across the LoC into India for an ambush in Poonch district.

Choubey said the SOPs were followed by the troops during patrolling but in such cases the element of surprise always lay with the attacker. "We learn each time such an incident takes place."

He said the Army and BSF will brainstorm to come up with a revised SOP.

"The BSF works under the operational command of the Army at the LOC. I assure you, the Army and the BSF will together come up with revised SoPs so that such incidents can be minimized."

Giving details about Monday's incident in Krishna Ghati sector, he said: "The firing came from two Pakistani FDLs (Forward Defence Locations) and simultaneously from two ambushes while a well-coordinated BAT action was carried out."

BAT is made up of Pakistan Army personnel and the terrorists it trains.

The officer said the patrolling party which was attacked had nine men -- six from the BSF and three from the Army.

He said troops along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir "are very, very alert.

"The launching pads (for terrorists intending to infiltrate) are always active across the IB, but we also are very, very alert.

"The IB is under direct control of the BSF and so far there has not been a single incident of a successful infiltration," he said.