Gen Bikram Singh hails Kargil officer tortured by Pak

Army chief General Bikram Singh today expressed support for the family of Kargil hero Capt Saurabh Kalia who along with some other soldiers was allegedly tortured to death by Pakistan after his capture in 1999 during Kargil war.

Gen Singh said that an official letter has been sent to the ministry of defence and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) raising concerns over the matter.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Salman Khurshid dubbed the matter as a serious bilateral issue and said that justice should be delivered.

Capt Kalia's family has moved the Supreme Court asking it to order the government to raise the matter with Pakistan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They were compelled to move the apex court after no action was taken for 13 years.

While speaking at the National Defence Academy's passing out parade at Khadakwasla near Pune, Gen Singh said, "He was a brave soldier. He laid down his life for the country in the Kargil war. We have shown our concerns to the defence ministry and human rights panel and we fully support the family."

Capt Kalia of the 4 Jat Regiment and five other soldiers of his patrolling team were captured alive on 15 May 1999 and kept in captivity, where they were tortured and their bodies mutilated.

The autopsy report of Capt Kalia and the other five soldiers revealed extreme torture including cigarette burns, pierced ear drums with hot rods and chopped off limbs and private organs before finally being shot dead.

The family wants that the torture of their son be declared a war crime and also wants Pakistan to apologise. But despite his appeals, Lt Kalia's father Dr N K Kalia says the government has done nothing.