2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar

On 9 June 2015, India conducted a cross-border strike code name Operation Hot Pursuit against insurgents belonging to NSCN-K.^[7] According to India, the operation took place in Myanmar and it was in response to ambush of Indian Army convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur.^[8] Indian officials said that they had crossed the border and inflicted significant casualties against the NSCN-K.^[1] According to Indian media reports, around 38 insurgents belonging to NSCN-K were killed during the operation.^[5][2] The operation lasted around 40 minutes.^[4]

2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar
Part of Insurgency in Northeast India
Date 9 June 2015 Location India–Myanmar border Result Several insurgent camps destroyed
Belligerents
India	NSCN-K Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag (Chief of Army Staff) Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat (General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 3 Corps)^[1]	S.S. Khaplang (NSCN-K/GPNR) Chaplee Kilonser Starson (NSCN-K/ GPRN) N. Oken (KYKL)
Units involved
Indian Army 21 Para (Special Forces) Army Aviation Corps	No specific units
Strength
70 Para SF operators ALH helicopters^[2]	300+
Casualties and losses
None	38 (Indian claim)^[3]^[4]^[5] None (NSCN-K claim)^[6]

Cross-border raid details

Based on precise intelligence inputs, the Indian Air Force and 21 PARA (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.^[9] 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 kilometers 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. In its statement after the operation, the Indian Army said it was in communication with Myanmar and that, "There is a history of close cooperation between our two militaries. We look forward to working with them to combat such terrorism, This entire operation was made successful by the code name Agent Lima with the input of his intelligent.".^[2]

According to Indian officials, heavy casualties were inflicted on the attackers behind the ambush on Army on 4 June, which had claimed the lives of 18 Army jawans of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur.^[8] This has been marked as the biggest attack on Indian Army after Kargil war of 1999.

Casualties

Indian media initially claimed that around 15 to 20 insurgents belonging to NSCN-K were killed during the operation.^{[10][11][12][13][14]} 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.^[15]

Later on, Indian media reports claimed that around 38 insurgents were killed during the operation.^{[3][4][5][16]}

Aftermath

Indian Army General Dalbir Singh Suhag claimed that the Indian troops had operated along the border with Myanmar. However, General Dalbir Singh's claims were contradicted by Indian information minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Col Rathore claimed that Indian troops had crossed the border to hit insurgents in Myanmar.^[13][17] Similarly Indian Army Chief, Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat, also confirmed that Indian troops had crossed Myanmar's border to attack NSCN-K insurgents.^[9]

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.^[18] 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.^[19]

National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang faction (NSCN-K) also challenged Indian claims. NSCN-K claimed that their camp was not targeted and they did not suffer any casualties. The group challenged Indian Army to display the bodies killed in the attack.^[6]

In media

Documentaries

Special Operations: India "Myanmar" (2018) is a TV documentary about the operation which premiered on History TV18 Channel. It was directed and produced by Prabhu Asgaonkar and Manika Berry Asgaonkar.^[20][21]

See also

• 2016 Indian Line of Control strike

References

1. "Myanmar operation: 70 commandos finish task in 40 minutes". thehindu.com. 10 June 2015. from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
2. "70 commandos involved in Myanmar operation". 10 June 2015. from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
3. "70 commandos involved in Myanmar operation". Zee News. 10 June 2015. from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
4. "Myanmar operation: 70 commandos finish task in 40 minutes". Economic Times. 14 July 2018. from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
5. "When Indian Army conducted surgical strike against NSCN(K) in June 2015". Times Now News. 12 January 2018. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019. As per details available, a crack team of about 70 commandos of the Indian Army entered Myanmar to strike at the militant group's camps. They returned within 40 minutes, leaving at least 38 Naga insurgents dead and several injured.
6. "NSCN(K) challenges Indian Army to display bodies of those killed in attack". Economic Times. 11 June 2015.
7. "Special Operations India : 'Myanmar' HistoryTV18 Exclusive". History India. History TV18. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
8. . 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
9. Haidar, Suhasini; Joseph, Josy (3 December 2017). "Army Chief Rawat's remarks on Myanmar raid leaves Centre red-faced". The Hindu. from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
10. "Army strikes back, kills 20 militants 'responsible' for Manipur massacre in Myanmar". First Post. 10 June 2015. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
11. "Manipur ambush: Army strikes back at northeast militants inside Myanmar, kills 15". Times of India. 9 June 2015. from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
12. "Indian Army crosses Myanmar border in rare attack to avenge Manipur massacre". India Today. 9 June 2015. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
13. "India 'attacks rebels in Myanmar'". BBC News. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019. While the Indian army said its soldiers had operated along the border with Myanmar, Mr Rathore said the troops had "crossed over to Myanmar territory" during Tuesday morning's operation..... The Press Trust of India news agency quoted unnamed sources as saying that Indian troops had killed some 15 rebels in the "cross-border" attack.
14. "Indian army hits insurgents in Myanmar; kill 15". Business Standard. 10 June 2015. from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
15. Jain, Bharti (10 June 2015). "Inside story: Over 100 northeast militants may have been killed in Army's Myanmar operations". Times of India. from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
16. "Myanmar covert operation: Decision to strike militants taken on June 4, over 38 insurgents killed". Deccan Chronicle. 10 June 2015. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
17. "Indian army attacks insurgents along border with Burma days after ambush". The Guardian. 9 June 2015. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
18. "Government denies India operation took place inside Myanmar". Myanmar Times. 11 June 2015. from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
19. "Myanmar denies Indian Army raid inside its territory". 11 June 2015. from the original on 14 June 2015.
20. "Special Operations: India 'Myanmar' English Episode". History TV18. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
21. "Special Ops India: History TV18 to present documentary on Pathankot airbase attack on June 25". Hindustan Times. 22 June 2018. from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2020.