Poonch attack: Pakistan’s BAT carried special daggers, cameras

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 24

Pakistan’s notorious Border Action Team (BAT), which carried out a deadly attack on a patrol of the Indian Army after crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in the KG Sector of Poonch, was armed with special daggers and headband cameras to videograph the strike on June 22.

Two Indian soldiers were killed in the attack while a BAT member was gunned down in the retaliatory action by Army jawans.

The Army claimed the recovery of war-like store from the body of the armed intruder (BAT member) had exposed “the barbaric intent of Pakistan army”. To substantiate its claim, the Army has also released the photographs of arms, ammunition and other war-like stores recovered from the body of the BAT member.

“The body of the intruder killed on June 22 has been retrieved and handed over to the local police. Arms, ammunition and other war-like stores, including a dagger and a headband with a camera, were recovered which reflect the barbaric mindset of the Pakistan army. The resolute action of our soldiers didn’t let their nefarious plan to succeed,” an Army officer said.

The officer said the headband-fitted camera on the body of the Pak gunman made it clear that the BAT members wanted to videograph the incident.

The BAT members reportedly sneaked about 500 m across the LoC into the KG sector and executed their plan. This was the third such attack this year. Two Indian soldiers killed in the BAT attack were Naik Jadhav Sandip of Aurangabad, Maharashtra and Sepoy Mane Savan Balku of Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Sources said the Army had also recovered a special dagger, a knife, one AK rifle, three magazines, two grenades besides clothes and bags from the body of the BAT member.

“The special dagger was apparently carried by the BAT members to perform the quick mutilation and beheading of jawans killed in the exchange of fire. Our alert troops foiled their attempt,” the officer said, adding that they were not sure whether the camera was “live connected” with the Pakistan army across the LoC.

The Army officer claimed that another BAT member might have also been killed in the gunfight. However, his body was extricated by BAT members under the cover fire by Pakistan army.