New Delhi: The Indian Army Special Forces early on Tuesday launched a surgical strike at two bases of Northeast terror groups inside Myanmar and killed several ultras. Forty of India's toughest, commandos from the elite 21 Para Special Force in two teams carried out the surgical strikes at two rebel camps, at least five kilometers inside Myanmar.
There is confirmation of at least 38 insurgent casualties and it wasn't just hot pursuit. The Army says the strikes were pre-emptive and security experts emphasise it sends out a strong signal. Additional Director General of Military Operations Major General Randhir Singh said, "In the course of last few days, very credible and specific intelligence have been received regarding further attacks that were being planned to be carried out inside our territory."
Speaking to CNN-IBN, former army chief (Retd) General VP Malik said, "It does indicate that here after the Indian Army will be bold and will carry out the operations in future also."
The rare bold move was supervised at the highest political and security levels with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Manohar Parriokar and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag tracking the operation.
Indian authorities deliberated on a strike soon after the June 4 ambush in Manipur’s Chandel district led to the death of 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra Regiment.
The green signal came on the night of June 7 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from Bangladesh. Intercepts and reconnaissance missions had confirmed the presence of terrorists in two camps across the Indian border in Myanmar.
The operation began at 3AM on Tuesday when the men were airdropped and the actual neutralisation of the insurgent camps took about 45 minutes. Army commandos walked through dense forests and carried out the strike. Myanmar was informed but only after the operations began. However, its soldiers did not take part.
The operation was guided by specific and precise intelligence input and questions have been raised whether this marks a shift in India's counter insurgency offensive, across its various frontiers.
Reacting to the operation, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps said, “This operation is specific to this area. The operations took place according to the circumstances there and cannot be linked to another operation elsewhere. This is not right professionally."
Indian Military Review Executive Editor Major General RK Arora said, “Carrying out an operation in PoK that’s our territory, we don’t need Pakistan’s permission to carry out an operation in PoK. We need our own maters’ permission and that I think it will be forthcoming."
Since then, the Indian Army has carried out several small operations but Tuesday’s covert operation is clear declaration of India's new-found readiness to pre-emptive action when it comes to dealing with terror threats.
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