Jawan mutilated: In 'heavy retribution', India blitzes Pak LoC

NEW DELHI: The Army today carried out a massive counter assault using heavy mortar fire on Pakistani posts along the Line of Control, making good its promise of "heavy retribution" for the beheading of an Indian soldier yesterday.Even as Pakistan continued to violate the ceasefire, the armed forces launched crippling attacks on Pakistani posts in Poonch, Rajouri, Kel and Machil sectors.Pakistan today committed ceasefire violations in Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Nowshera sectors of Kashmir, ANI reported.Yesterday, terrorists actively backed by the Pakistan army killed two soldiers and beheaded one soldier in gross violation of the Geneva Convention."Retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act of mutilating a soldier's body," the Army said yesterday. The Army destroyed four Pakistan army posts with massive fire assaults after an Indian soldier was beheaded October 28, in a similar border action team (BAT) operation as yesterday's.A BAT typically consists of terrorists working in close conjunction with Pakistan army regulars for tactical operations against Indian troops and posts along the 778km Line of Control (LoC).Yesterday, the three slain soldiers from 57 Rashtriya Rifles were in the lead of a counter-infiltration patrol when the patrol was ambushed by terrorists ahead of the LoC fencing in the thickly-forested, mountainous Macchil sector in the morning."The Pakistan army simultaneously opened fire at our patrol. Once the situation stabilised, the three bodies were found in the search operation... one was badly mutilated," said an army officer yesterday."Condemn the cowardly and brutal killing of our soldiers, and mutilation of one of them. Salute these brave martyrs for their supreme sacrifice," tweeted Defence minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday.Since the October 28 beheading of a soldier , the Army has been conducting targeted fire assaults with heavy-calibre weapons, including artillery guns, 120mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles, to inflict heavy casualties on the Pakistan army by flattening some of its forward posts and bunkers.