Indian army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control dismantling at least three of the six target terror camps in PoK. A team of 25 army commandos carried out the operation after getting a go ahead from the government.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1Indian army commandos crossed the LoC to carry out surgical strikes in PoK.
- 2The army commandos dismantled terror camps in PoK and killed 38 terrorists.
- 3Defence Minister, NSA and army chief monitored the entire operation from army headquarters.
After years of terror strikes supported by Pakistan, the Indian Army has hit back with a textbook surgical strike that killed 38 terrorists, 2 Pakistani soldiers, and destroyed five terror camps.
India Today has got exclusive details of the inside story behind the surgical strikes.
It was around midnight, when the Army's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters with 25 commandos from 4-Para and 9-para crossed the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The helicopters dropped the commandos at earmarked spots and returned. They were now in enemy territory.
Commandos used Israel made Tavor assault rifles.
HOW THEY REACHED THE TARGET
The Army commandos crawled through mud, rocks and even landmines for about 3 kilometres with the threat of being caught in the Pakistan army's crosshairs. Their destinations included five launch pads where large number of terrorists had gathered.
The launch pads were for terrorists waiting to infiltrate into the Indian side of the LoC to carry out terror attacks in the country. The terror launch pads were located in Bhimbar, Kel, Tattapani and Leepa areas.
The launch pads were under close surveillance of the Indian intelligence agencies. RAW and Military Intelligence had kept an eye on every single movement of terrorists in the target zone.
THE SURGICAL STRIKE
The surgical strike team had six targets on mind, three of which were completely destroyed during the operation. Commandos were equipped with Tavor and M-4 guns, grenades and smoke grenades. They also carried under barrel grenade launchers (UBGL) and night-vision devices. They wore camera-mounted helmets.
After reaching the target spot, the commandos used the element of surprise to mount rapid and deadly attacks on the enemy. With the terrorists taken by surprise, the crack troops added to the chaos by firing a flurry of smoke grenades into the terror camps.
Their actions were so precise and quick that by the time terrorists and Pakistani army personnel realized what was happening, 38 terrorists had been killed. Two Pakistani army personnel were also killed in the action.
Two para commandos of the strike team received injuries during the mission from landmines.
The para commandos preferred M4 carbine as their most favourite weapon against the terrorists. (Screenshot: YouTube- Howcast)
REAL-TIME MONITORING
Meanwhile in Delhi, in a scene similar to the US mission to take out Osama bin Laden, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag monitored the entire operation in real time, receiving footage from the helmet cameras as well as a drone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was being regularly briefed about the progress of the operation.
Parrikar congratulated the Army for its successful operation. He said that Army had "credible information about the presence of terrorists in the area and we carried out surgical attacks on those camps." PoK is part of India, Parrikar added.
In an important diplomatic move, Doval spoke to his American counterpart Susan Rice and took her into confidence about the cross-border operation.
Commandos used Army's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters to carry out the surgical strikes.
A DINNER SKIPPED AND A WAR ROOM MEETING
The operation that began at 12.30 am past midnight ended at around 4.30 am on Thursday. Army headquarters in Delhi had finished its preparation for the operation by 8 pm on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, in fact, there was a dinner at the Coastguard Commander Conference in New Delhi. Besides Parrikar, Doval and General Suhag were expected to attend the dinner party.
However, the three skipped the dinner and held a war-room meeting at Army headquarters, where they reviewed the plan for the surgical operation and gave their final approval.
Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag said that the army had done what it said by "giving a befitting reply at the place and time of its own choice".
VIGILANT AFTER STRIKE
After paying back Pakistan in the same coin, the Indian Army's morale is high but it has also stepped up vigil along the LoC and the border in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Punjab.
All the three armed forces and paramilitary forces have been put on the highest alert. The leaves of Army and BSF personnel have been cancelled.
Areas adjacent to border and LoC in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are being evacuated. Additional deployment of BSF personnel is also being made. There is a high alert from Gujarat to Kashmir along the border and LoC. Coast Guard has been asked to be extra vigilant.
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