India Will Take Steps To Uphold Sanctity Of LoC: Defense Minister

New Delhi, Aug 7, IRNA -- Indian Government today said the attack and killing of five Indian soldiers was carried out by terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistani Army uniform and India will take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control (LoC). Making suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament on this mornings incident, Defence Minister A K Antony said the attack was carried out on the Indian side of the LoC. An Indian army patrol, comprising one Non-Commissioned Officer and five other ranks, was ambushed on our side of the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, he said in identical statements in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, pti reported. The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily-armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistani army uniform, he said. In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers were martryred and one soldier was injured, he said. Strongly condemning the unprovoked incident, Antony said, I assure the House that our army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC. He said the Government of India has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan government through diplomatic channels. His statement came after members expressed anger over the incident and wanted to know how the government was responding to it. Antony said the number of infiltration attempts from Pakistan have doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period of January 1 to August 5. There have also been 57 ceasefire violations this year which is 80 percent more than the violations last year during the same period, the Defence Minister said. He said the Indian Army successfully eliminated 19 hardcore terrorists in July and August along the LoC and in the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir. The effective counter infiltration grid on the LoC has ensured that 17 infiltration bids were foiled this year, he said. Meanwhile, amid tension triggered by the killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops, patrolling and security have been heightened along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Patrolling and security have been heightened along the border with Pakistan after todays attack by Pakistani troops in which five Indian jawans, a senior Army officer said. He said troops have been asked to be on high alert in view of the apprehension of more such attacks along the LoC. As per statistics, last month itself there were half a dozen incidents on the border, including firing on troops at the posts. 17 militants were killed in 12 infiltration bids besides 11 ceasefire violations and 3 attacks in which one porter was killed and 5 others were injured last month. This month till date, there were 4 ceasefire violations, two infiltration bids resulting in killing of 4 militants and one junior commissioned officer (JCO). The killing came just as India and Pakistan were preparing to resume peace talks stalled since January when tensions rose following the beheading of two Indian soldiers along the LoC. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are slated to meet in New York next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session./end