New Delhi, Mar 4 (IANS): The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the central government on a petition asking for the issue of the beheading of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control (LOC) by the Pakistani army to be raised in the International Criminal Court.

The apex court bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and J.S. Khehar issued notice as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Sarwa Mitter contended that the brutal and inhuman beheading of the Indian soldiers by Pakistani army was contrary to the Geneva Convention.

The PIL has also sought direction to government to ask Pakistan to return the head of martyr soldier Hemraj.

The petition has also sought the termination of trade and cultural relations with Pakistan if the latter fails to return Hemraj's head.

The court, while issuing the notice to the centre, tagged the PIL with another petition relating to the Pakistani army returning the mutilated body of Capt. Saurav Kalia that is pending for hearing before the court.

Pakistani soldiers had Jan 8 intruded into the Indian side in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, killed two Indian soldiers and beheaded one of them. This led to escalation of tension between the two countries, but the situation eased after a flag meeting between the two sides Jan 14.