23 years on, father of Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia still awaits justice against Pakistan Army

When one thinks of age 22, it is all about finishing our studies, beginning to look out for a job, fulfilling dreams, and even these days having a relationship. It is the age where individuals are confused and find ways to settle down as soon as possible with an aim to have luxurious life ahead in the future. But it is not for everyone. There are personalities who leave behind such a legacy which makes us emotional. Such is the story of the first Kargil War martyr.

 

 

23 years ago, there was this person from Palampur (No, it is not Captain Vikram Batra), who was fighting the cold at more than 17,000 feet near Kaksar, Kargil where he received orders to take a surveillance patrol to Bajrang Post. But, who knew, he along with five other soldiers, will be tortured to death.

 

 

On 15 May 1999, Captain Saurabh Kalia of the 4 Jat Regiment and five other soldiers - Sepoy Arjun Ram, Sepoy Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Sepoy Bhikaram, Sepoy Moola Ram, and Sepoy Naresh Singh - were on a routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector in the Ladakh mountains. At this point in time, they were one of the first ones to take on the Pakistani Army intruders who were hiding like cowards. The team led by Capt Saurabh Kalia engaged in a firefight with these intruders across the LOC but were captured alive once they ran out of ammunition after a prolonged gun battle.

 

 

There were in captivity from 15 May 1999 – 7 June 1999 and were brutally tortured. It was evident from injuries to their bodies when they were handed over by the Pakistani Army on 9 June 1999. Post-mortem examinations conducted by India reported that the prisoners variously had cigarette burns, ear drums pierced with hot rods, many broken teeth and bones, fractured skulls, eyes that had been punctured before being removed, cut lips, chipped noses, and amputated limbs and genitalia. According to the examinations, these injuries preceded the captives being shot dead in the head.

 

 

 

When Vaibhav, his younger brother, Vaibhav saw the body, he said, ‘They showed me his face to reconfirm his identity. It was in a shocking state, there was almost nothing on it except his eyebrows. I told my parents not to look.’ Yes, they were murdered by an enemy that knows no ethics and blatantly disregards human rights. And of course, Pakistan had denied the charges.

Fighting for justice:

Capt Saurabh Kalia's father Narender Kalia, vowed that he would fight for the human rights of his son and five officers who were subjected to torture for more than three weeks and make sure that the guilty were punished. ‘In those days in captivity, they fought the Kargil War, alone and unarmed,’ he had said in the book "Kargil-Untold Stories from the War". 

 

 

 

Narender Kalia, who is over 70 years old, campaigned to have the acts declared a war crime by the United Nations and the people responsible punished in accordance with the Geneva Convention. An online petition was also started by the father to highlight the plight of the war victims. It was pursued by the MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who wrote to the External Affairs Minister and raised questions in Parliament as to why the Government had not taken up the case with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

In response, Defence Minister A. K. Antony wrote to Kalia's parents in October 2013 that India was bound by the Simla Agreement, and any differences with Pakistan would be settled bilaterally. It is also said that it was the Ministry of External Affairs that did not follow up on the case with the UN.

 

 

One should remember that the brutal torture of Captain Kalia and his men was in contrast to international laws like the Geneva Convention that governs the treatment of prisoners. So, it should be noted that a horrifying crime was committed by the Pakistani Army, and for that, the culprits must be held to account.

The inhuman torture and killing of Capt Saurabh Kalia is a war crime. Until those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice, Captain Saurabh Kalia's death cannot be forgotten or forgiven. It is because our men and women in uniform serve the nation selflessly, and it is the government's responsibility to stand by its soldiers. And justice for Captain Saurabh Kalia's death is essential to ensure that these crimes are never repeated.