Lance Naik Hemraj's Widow for Moving to ICJ in Kalia Case

Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and beheaded by Pakistani soldiers on January 8, 2013 in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

MATHURA: The widow of slain soldier Hemraj today said it would be a great injustice to the martyrs if the Indian government does not approach the International Court of Justice against the brutal killing of Captain Saurabh Kalia by Pakistan.

Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and beheaded by Pakistani soldiers on January 8, 2013 in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is very unfortunate that the soldiers who protect our country don't get proper respect after being martyred," Dharmvati, the widow of Lance Naik Hemraj, told PTI on phone.

"The government speaks a lot over these issues but is wary of taking proper action," she said. "The BJP government, which used to talk about beheading 10 Pakistani soldiers in return of the death of one Indian Army trooper, would do a great injustice to the martyrs if it doesn't approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," Dharmvati said.

Lance Naik Hemraj of 13 Rajputana Rifles was killed and beheaded by Pakistani soldiers on January 8, 2013 in Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir. Stressing that she had met the family of Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia, Dharmvati said, "I had met the family of Capt Kalia and fully support their view of approaching the ICJ over the issue."

Bowing to public pressure, government today reversed its stand on the brutal torture of Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia by Pakistani troops and announced that it could explore the option of moving the ICJ against Pakistan.

Capt Kalia of the 4 Jat Regiment, was captured by Pakistani troops along with five other Indian soldiers on May 15, 1999. He was tortured gruesomely in captivity before his body was handed over to India. His family was pressing the government to move ICJ since the torture was in violation of the Geneva Convention on treatment of war prisoners.

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