Killing of soldiers by Pakistan: Supreme Court notice to Government on PIL

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today issued notice to Centre on a PIL seeking direction to government to raise before the International Criminal Court (ICC) the issue of beheading and mutilation of bodies of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan.

A bench of justices P Sathasivam and JS Khehar asked the government to file a response within four weeks.

The bench tagged the case with another petition which had raised the issue of mutilation of the body of another Indian soldier, late Captain Saurabh Kalia, by Pakistani Armed Forces during the Kargil war.

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by one Sarwa Mitter alleging that the government has not taken any action against Pakistan after the ghastly killing of the two jawans on January 8 and sought the court's interference in the matter.

"Killing of two jawans of Indian Army, including their beheading is highly heinous and inhuman. Therefore, direct the government to refer actions of Pakistan to the International Criminal Court," the petition said, adding, "Pakistan's actions are contrary to Geneva Convention and action must be taken against them."

Earlier, the apex court had sought the Centre's response on the plea of father of Kargil war hero Capt Kalia, who was captured by the Pakistan Army in 1999 and subjected to brutal torture, seeking directions to the Government to raise his son's case at the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

Kalia and five other soldiers of his patrolling team were captured alive on May 15, 1999 and kept in captivity where they were tortured and their bodies mutilated.