Army FIR blamed only terrorists,Chief now differs

However,sources said that after his return from Jammu and Kashmir,Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh briefed the top leadership,and said that the attack was carried out by a team comprising both Pak army regulars and irregular forces.

It is learnt that Gen. Singh said that the Pakistani border action team (BAT) that targeted the Indian patrol consisted of 15 personnel dressed in “salwar kameez” and five in olive greens (OGs). The Chief said that special forces of the Pak army were involved in the attack and added that the Indian side had reconstructed the entire incident to come to the conclusion.

It was this briefing by the Army Chief that resulted in the new statement by Antony in Parliament,during which he blamed Pakistani regular troops.

It is learnt that on August 6,the Poonch police station lodged an FIR No. 113/2013 on the basis of a letter sent by the adjutant of 21 Bihar against unknown terrorists under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code,4/25 and 26/27 of the Arms Act,and 2/3 of the Egress Act.

Sources said the letter made no mention of Pakistan army regulars,and blamed “terrorists from across the LoC” for the incident.

“A patrol party comprising one non commissioned officer (NCO) and five jawans,including four from 21 Bihar and two from 14 Maratha Light Infantry were moving from own post to another around 1230 hrs,” the letter says.

“With an aim to target them so as to establish their dominance,terrorists from across the LoC had sneaked into the Indian territory and laid an ambush near Post No. 1. As the patrol party entered the area near Cheetah post,they came under heavy fire from Pakistani terrorists around 1 am and in the ensuing gun fight suffered five fatal casualties,” it adds.

Station House Officer of Poonch Police Station,Sanjeev Salathia,confirmed the details.

Sources said the Army carried out a reconstruction of the entire attack on Tuesday,that led Gen. Singh to reaffirm that it was carried out by special forces. The reconstruction,as well as examination of the nature of injuries received by the martyred soldiers,made the Army conclude that the raid was had been carried out by a highly professional and trained team and had all the hallmarks of a special operation by trained troops.

(With ENS,Delhi)