Pak sends mutilated bodies ahead of Aziz

Speaking after a preliminary examination, pending post-mortem, an Army spokesman here described the Pakistan army8217;s handiwork as an 8220;outrageous act, which is violative of international conventions8221;. Refusing to give details of the mutilation inflicted on the six, which include Lt Saurav Kalia, the official said the 8220;Army would have to wait for the post-mortem and the final medical reports before making a statement.8221;

The six soldiers were part of a patrolthat went missing on May 14 in Kaksar when the first signs of Pakistani intrusions became known. The official said the bodies had been identified by the Commanding Officer of the battalion. The post-mortem was delayed on account of bad weather in the Kargil sector and the helicopter carrying the mortal remains of the soldiers had to return after taking off from the base.

The bodies were handed over to the Army at Post 43 on the Kargil LoC by a Pakistan army detachment yesterday. 8220;Since the bodies were handed over by the Pakistan army, they will have to do the explaining before the ICRC,8221; official sources said.

While Pakistan has not mentioned the date of the clashes which allegedly led to the six soldiers being killed, Army officers say it is clear that they were tortured, killed in cold blood and their bodies mutilated. Radio Skardu in PoK had reported that Lt Kalia had been captured soon after the battle broke out in Kargil.

8220;While the handing over ceremony was taking place, the condition of thebodies was not known as they were in boxes. But once the bodies were brought down, the officers who examined them were horror-struck,8221; said the sources.

This is the second incident of Indian defence personnel being meted out such treatment. The body of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, whose MIG-21 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near the LoC, bore two bullet wounds 8212; one through the chest and the other near the chin.

With this the toll of Indian troops in Kargil has risen to 72 even as fierce fighting continued to drive out the armed infiltrators. In the Batalik sector, the Army suffered three more casualties. Besides, 217 troops have been wounded while eight are missing.

The Army has killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and injured 12 during the past 24 hours. So far over 242 Pakistan army regulars have been killed in action.

Bad weather severely restricted air attacks today and only a couple of recce missions were carried out, an Air Force spokesman said, adding that it might be a couple of daysbefore strikes could be possible.

Army Chief Gen V P Malik visited Srinagar, Drass, Kargil and Partapur sectors today and was briefed on the situation.

The BJP today condemned Pakistan for torturing Indian soldiers captured by it. Speaking to reporters, party spokesman M. Venkaiah Naidu described Pakistan8217;s act as unwarranted and against all international norms.