'No credibility': Jaitley dismisses Pakistan's denial of beheadings of Indian soldiers

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said cover fire was provided to those who killed and mutilated the bodies of the two soldiers and Pakistan helped the perpetrators to escape. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: Rubbishing Pakistan's claim that its military was not involved in mutilating the bodies of two Indian soldiers at the LoC, India said that Pakistan's denial carries no credibility. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said cover fire was provided to those who killed and mutilated the bodies of the two soldiers and Pakistan helped the perpetrators to escape. "The denial itself carries no credibility because the entire gamut of circumstances clearly indicates that this barbaric act of first killing two of our soldiers and then mutilating their bodies has been carried out with the active participation of the (Pakistani) army," he said. "The fact that cover firing was provided to those who carried out this act.. they are helped to escape, in such a heavily guarded border where posts are within few meters of each other, this cannot happen without the protection or the participation or the actual indulgence of the army," the defence minister added. Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh and the BSF's Head Constable Prem Sagar were killed and thereafter mutilated by Pakistan Army in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district of J&K on Monday. Meanwhile, the Indian Government has gathered proof of the barbaric act of crossing the line of control and mutilating the bodies of two Indian soldiers. The proof is in the form of few drops of blood whose sample has been collected by the Army from a Raja drain close to Poonch’s Krishna Valley. This was the spot where Indian soldiers were mutilated. As per Ministry of External affairs, the Army has found the blood stains of Pakistani soldier along with that of Indian soldiers at the spot. Speaking to media, MEA spokesperson said “We are certain that Pakistan Army committed the horrendous act. He added saying that the Government has two proofs which establish the fact that Pakistan Army was involved. First proof is the blood stain sample collected by the Army, and the second proof is the sample collected was inside Indian Territory, which proves that Pakistan Army crossed the LoC and attacked Indian soldiers. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Abdul Basit has been called upon by Indian counterpart S.Jaishankar. As per sources, Jaishankar condemned the attack and lashed out at Basit for committing the horrendous act.