Disregard for SOPs reason for soldiers' killing?

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Aug 23 2013 | 7:38 PM IST
Disregard for standard operating procedures while patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) has been cited as one of the main reasons for the killing of five Indian soldiers on the LoC by Pakistani special forces in Poonch on August 6.
An internal investigation being carried out by the local formation there has found that the soldiers were taking rest when they were ambushed by the Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT), which had to fire not more than a dozen bullets at close ranges to accomplish their task, sources said here.
The Army headquarters, however, said investigations are still in progress and it would share the details of the incident only once it has established the exact sequence of events and the lapses.
The five soldiers, from 21 Bihar Regiment and 14 Maratha Light Infantry unit, were killed when they were patrolling the area on August 6.
One soldier of the six-member patrol had gone to relieve himself and was not injured in the ambush. However, he was admitted to hospital for being in a state of shock.
Army sources said no formal court of inquiry has been ordered by the force into the incident which took place in the 93 Brigade area in Poonch.
The Army Chief had reprimanded the formation commanders in the area for allowing two successful and sensational operations by Pakistan Army troops inside Indian territory in a span of eight months.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 23 2013 | 7:38 PM IST

Next Story