Family of Indian soldier who was mutilated on fast

New Delhi: Even as the tension between India and Pakistan continues to escalate following the killing of Indian soldiers near the Line of Control (LoC), the family of one of the Indian martyrs has gone on protest demanding the remains of his body. Also, there has been no reply yet from the neighbour on holding a flag march to defuse the tension, even as India has talked tougher with Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne warning of other options.

In the Shernagar village in Mathura, days after receiving the mutilated body of their brave son, Lance Naik Hemraj, the angry villagers are asking the government to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. The family of the martyr has in fact gone on hunger strike, demanding that his remains be handed over to them.

Tears have failed to stop in the village with the family members, including Hemraj's wife Dharamvanti, demanding the remains of the martyr, but the officials say they are unable to fulfill this demand. When asked about this, his mother said he wanted the head of his son.

People in the Uttar Pradesh village, who received the body of the martyr and cremated it with full military honours, are also demanding that there should not be any friendship with the neighbouring country. Hemraj's friend Tejendra Singh said, "We shouldn't be friends with Pakistan. No need to be friends with them. Time to give them a befitting reply."

Meanwhile, the tension has remained along the LoC as Pakistan hasn't yet responded to the Indian Army's offer of a flag meeting to de-escalate the situation. Angered by the response, India's Air Chief has warned of other options, even as 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is continuing to stoke the crisis.

"What is happening in the last few months is not acceptable. If this continues, perhaps we will have to look at other options for compliance of the set norms on the border," said Air Force chief NAK Browne.

The air chief's remarks appeared aimed at Pakistan's delay in responding to India seeking a flag meeting to bring down tensions in areas like Poonch. Though no firing was reported since Friday night, unconfirmed reports claimed a build up of Pakistani troops along parts of the Line of Control.

In Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed accused India of complicity in the bombing of 82 people in Quetta earlier this week, and warned of an ugly situation in Kashmir. Accusing India of trying to worsen the situation, Saeed said, "They want to escalate the violence to avoid a permanent resolution...This border tension can turn into an ugly situation like a war and we want to avoid it."

However, despite the tensions remaining high, most experts are of the view that the two countries should not risk the biggest India-Pakistan confidence building measure - a ceasefire that has lasted nine years now.