ARTICLE 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in

On 9 June 2015, announced that it had conducted a cross- border operation against insurgents belonging to NSCN-K. According to India, the operation took place in Myanmar and it was in response to ambush of convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of . Indian officials said that they had crossed the border and inflicted significant casualties against the NSCN-K. According to Indian media reports, around 38 insurgents belonging to NSCN-K were killed during the operation. The operation lasted around 40 minutes.

:- An insurgent of NSCN-K

Details about the counter Insurgency Operations Based on precise intelligence inputs, the Indian Air Force and 21 (SF) carried a cross-border operation along the India– Myanmar border and destroyed two Militant camps one each of NSCN (K) and KYKL, along the India–Myanmar border. The operations were carried out inside the Myanmar territory along the Nagaland and Manipur border at two locations. One of the locations is near Ukhrul in Manipur. The army attacked two transit camps of the Naga militants.

Seventy-two special forces commandos were reportedly involved in the operation. They were equipped with advanced assault rifles, rocket launchers, grenades and night vision goggles. The commandos wore the uniforms of the 12 Bihar Battalion of Indian army, which was then deployed on the India–Myanmar border. Troops were divided into two groups after they fast roped from Dhruv helicopters just inside the Indian territory near the border with Myanmar. The teams trekked through the thick jungles for at least 50 KM before they reached the training camps. Each of the two teams were further divided into two sub-groups. While one was responsible for the direct assault, the second formed an outer ring to prevent any of insurgents from running and escaping. The actual operation (hitting the camp and destroying it) took about 40 minutes. Mi-17 helicopters of the IAF were put on standby, ready to be pressed into service to evacuate the commandos in case anything went wrong.

Amount of insurgents neutralized Initial Indian media reports indicated that around 15 to 20 insurgents belonging to NSCN-K were killed during the operation. However, Times of India, while citing unnamed source from Ministry of Home Affairs (India) claimed that more than 100 insurgents were killed during the whole operation. Later on, Indian media reports indicated that around 38 insurgents were killed during the operation.

After the success of Surgical Strikes Indian Army Gen. Dalbir Singh claimed that the Indian troops had operated along the border with Myanmar. However, Dalbir Singh's claims were contradicted by Indian information minister. Col .Rathore claimed that Indian troops had crossed the border to hit insurgents in Myanmar. Similarly Indian Army Chief, Lt Gen. Bipin Rawat, also confirmed that Indian troops had crossed Myanmar's border to attack NSCN-K insurgents.

Myanmar's government insisted that the operation did not take place on its territory and that Myanmar does not allow rebel groups to use its territory to stage attacks against foreign countries. Zaw Htay, director of Myanmar's presidential office, in a Facebook post claimed that Tatmadaw battalion belonging to Myanmar Army was sent to the location to ascertain the facts. The findings of the battalion confirmed that the operation took place on the Indian side of the territory.

BY – CDT AMAN PRADHAN RGTL No-OD/SDA/19/140002 Unit-4(o) CTC NCC , Cuttack College- CV RAMAN GLOBAL UNIVERSITY