Earlier this week New Delhi said its forces had hunted down a rebel group operating in the mountainous forests of Manipur state, close to Myanmar’s long western border.
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STR-AFP/Getty Images In this photograph taken on June 4, 2015, Indian security personnel stand alongside the smoldering vehicle wreckage at the scene of an attack on a military convoy in a remote area of Chandel district, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of northeastern Manipur’s state capital Imphal.
India’s northeast is home to a number of armed separatists groups that have challenged the Indian state, accusing it of neglecting local problems while exploiting natural resources.
Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, will hold interaction with various sections following the Prime Minister’s directive, official sources said. “This is also a message to our neighbors who shelter terrorists”, Mr. Rathore said, alluding mainly to nuclear-armed rival Pakistan.
“Indian Army strikes into the heart of militants”.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has recovered the body of a second insurgent, who got injured in the Manipur ambush and later succumbed to injuries.
Army sources meanwhile said more such operations may be carried out in future based on intelligence reports. There is no independent confirmation.
To a question whether helicopters were used in the operation, he said, “we had numerous other forces waiting in readiness for any eventuality”. India has looked the other way when that happened.
According to media reports, army paratroopers ambushed the rebels and killed at least 12 militants. “We have good relations with them (Myanmar), we carried out the strike”, junior Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told journalists. Significant casualties have been inflicted on them.
Officially, the army has not released figures for militants killed in the attack but these are estimated to be between 15 and 25.
Recommended: How much do you know about Myanmar? However, it too denied the cross border attack.
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. The military strike on foreign land was successfully completed with zero collateral damage, as well as no casualties among the soldiers.
The Congress, however, said government must not politicize the issue.
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