GUWAHATI: Indian Army’s para commandos have reportedly gunned down five rebels of the SS Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) in a surgical strike inside Myanmar.
According to defence sources, the attack was carried out by commandos of 12 Para on Wednesday afternoon, targeting the Shwelo camp of the NSCN-K three kilometres inside Myanmar, bordering Nagaland. The operation reportedly lasted two hours, following which the commandos returned.
The NSCN-K confirmed the incident but said the “Indian Army” retreated following blank shelling and firing.
“The Indian Army in huge number crossed Chenmoh village and arrived at the international boundary some kilometres away from the Naga Army forward post, and on realisation that their presence has already been detected, they resorted to blank firing randomly for several minutes to which the Naga Army responded and prevented any further advance. They retreated when we responded. Casualties could not be ascertained,” NSCN-K spokesman Isak Sumi said.
The incident came days after the outfit had killed two Assam Rifles personnel in an ambush in Nagaland’s Mon district. Even on Thursday, suspected NSCN-K rebels attacked a patrol of 7 Assam Rifles which was en route to Kiphire town from Meluri in Nagaland, by triggering an IED blast. One jawan was injured in the attack.