DENIED OF JUSTICE: Martyr Sourabh Kalia’s parents approaches Supreme Court

Dharamshala, November 28, 2012: After waiting for thirteen years for justice to  Kargil hero Capt Saurabh Kalia who was captured by Pakistan during the war in 1999, and  his mutilated body bearing torture marks was later sent to his family after 15 days, his father Dr NK Kalia, has now approached the Supreme Court.

Martyr’s parents are now demanding that the Court may direct the Centre to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan.

Dr. Kalia has alleged that his son Capt Kalia was captured as a prisoner of war but was killed in a gruesome manner in violation of the Geneva Convention.

The petition filed through advocate Arvind Sharma has alleged that despite making several representations to the government, no steps have been taken in connection with the brutal killing of Kalia, who was with the 4Jat Regiment (Infantry).

“We have made a prayer asking the Apex Court to direct the government to move the ICJ,” Sharma said.

The family wants that the torture of their son be declared a war crime and also want Pakistan to apologise.

But despite his appeals, Dr Kalia says the government has done nothing.

Dr Kalia said, "The then Prime Minister and Defence Minister had promised to take up the issue. Why have they not done so?"

Lt Saurabh Kalia's mother said, "We didn't get justice for the past 13 years and so we were forced to go to the Supreme Court."

Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday tweeted and said, "The government of India must take up the case of Lt Saurabh Kalia with the government of Pakistan. Did the then NDA government raise the issue with Pakistan?"

Capt Kalia, a resident of Palampur near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, was patrolling with his team of five other soldiers Sepoys Arjun Ram, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Moola Ram and Naresh Singh on May 15, 1999. All of them were captured alive by Pakistan Army during that routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector in Ladakh. They were kept in captivity where they were severely tortured and their bodies mutilated.