‘Our Jawans Don't Cross LoC, We Honour Human Rights’, Says Indian Army Chief

Army chief General Bikram Singh on Wednesday denied Pakistan's allegation that Indian troops crossed the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday night.

Retorting to Pakistan's claim of ceasefire violation near Hotspring and Jandrot sectors, Singh said that Indian troops will not carry out cross border firing unless provoked. He went on to say that if any causality was reported on the other side, it would be due to retaliatory firing.

"Our jawans don't cross the LoC. We honour human rights. We fire in retaliation when provoked," PTI quoted Singh as saying.

Pakistan had also alleged that one of its soldiers was killed in an "unprovoked firing" along the LoC to which Singh replied that it might have happened during cross-firing.

"These are normal activities that take place at the LoC. We have retaliated in response to cross-firing," Singh said. "The relationship (between the two countries) is got to be seen on what has been going on at the border" he added.

Singh made the statement on Wednesday after meeting the family members of martyred Lance Naik Hemraj, whose body was decapitated by the Pakistani troop in a cross-LoC attack in Kashmir's Poonch sector on Jan. 8.

Expressing his condolences, Singh assured the family members that Hemraj's sacrifice will not go in vain. He assured that the family's demands and requirements will be met by the Army as per the rule and regulations.

Singh also said that all efforts were being made to bring back the slain head of Lance Naik Hemraj which is reportedly in the possession of the Pakistan army.

The Army Chief, however, refused to make any comments over the statement made by Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar who alleged that his reaction on the ceasefire crisis was "provocative".