Parliamentary panel calls Defence Secretaryy, Army Vice Chief on LoC situation

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the beheading of an Indian soldier by Pakistani troops, a Parliamentary panel today decided to call the Defence Secretary and the Vice Chief of Army Staff to brief it on the latest situation along the Line of Control.

Sources said the Standing Committee on Defence decided that Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and Army Vice Chief Lt Gen S K Singh should appear before the panel in its next meeting to provide in-depth detail on the situation along the LoC following the January 8 incident.

During the meeting, members raised concern over the incident in which another Indian soldier was also killed.

The two soldiers -- Lance Naiks Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh -- were killed by Pakistani soldiers in Mendhar sector. Hemraj was later beheaded.

Following the incident, there had been several ceasefire violations. After the talks between the two Director Generals of Military Operations last week, the situation has calmed down.

Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has asserted that India reserves the right to retaliate at the time and place of its choosing.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asserted that the recent beheading incident has cast a "negative impact" on bilateral ties with Pakistan.

"We take a consistent review of our ties with Pakistan. The incident has cast a negative impact on our ties. We will take steps with care and due consideration," he said while addressing a meeting of AICC in Jaipur on Sunday.

"We want friendship with Pakistan. They should also make efforts in this regard. It is not possible only with our efforts," the Prime Minister had said.