On 18th September 2016, the country woke up to one of the most dastardly attacks by Pakistan. In the wee hours of the morning, at 5:30 AM, 4 heavily armed terrorists believed to be from LeT, attacked the Indian Army Brigade Headquarters in Uri, near the Line of Control. The terrorists lobbed 17 grenades in 3 minutes killing 17 army personnel.
The country reeled from the shock. The bodies kept mounting as the day progressed, and it was then that the shameless politicking started. While the condolences and condemnations poured in, many politicians resorted to the “Kashmir can only be solved through political dialogue” line of argument. But the country wanted the blood of its soldiers to be avenged.
On 29th September, merely 11 days after the ghastly Uri attack, a team of the Indian army crossed the LoC into Pakistan occupied Kashmir and conducted a surgical strike. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), said that it had received specific information about terrorist teams who were preparing to infiltrate and conduct terrorist strikes inside Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other states. The Indian action was meant to pre-empt their infiltration.
The strike started with the Army firing artillery to provide cover for three to four teams of 70–80 commandos from the 4th and 9th battalions of the Parachute Regiment (part of Para (Special Forces)) to cross the LoC at several separate points shortly after midnight on 29th September. Teams from 4 Para crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, with teams from 9 Para simultaneously crossing the LoC in Poonch district. Shortly thereafter, special forces begun destroying terrorist bases.
This was considered a major feat by India. Appreciation and support poured in from global quarters that said India was well within its right to defend itself from infiltration.
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan denied the Surgical Strike vehemently. What was of course unfortunate was Indian politicians toeing the exact same line and demanding that the Army and the Government release proof of surgical strikes.
Take a look at the Naysayers who questioned #SurgicalStrikes.#Viewpoint with @bhupendrachaube pic.twitter.com/RH3Bt9M3qH
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 19, 2018
Now, it looks like these political parties might actually have their wish granted.
History TV18 is all set to air a documentary on Surgical Strikes this 22nd January 2018 and they have released a rather exciting teaser.
What really happened behind the scenes as Indian Army strike teams went across the Line of Control to avenge the Uri terrorist attack? Who planned it? How did they execute it? Find out on #SurgicalStrikes premiering on 22nd Jan at 9 PM on HISTORY TV18. #SurgicalStrikesHISTORYTV18pic.twitter.com/q9VrqVMvIN
— HISTORY TV18 (@HISTORYTV18) January 19, 2018
It also seems like the documentary will feature never seen before footage of the surgical strike and detail never publicised details.
India’s historic response to terror, for the first time on Indian TV, never seen before visuals of the @adgpi’s operation, never heard before details of the strike. Watch #Viewpoint with @bhupendrachaube | #SurgicalStrikespic.twitter.com/EgJkuW4kGf
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 19, 2018
Once this documentary airs, we wonder if the eternal naysayers, who perhaps toed the enemy line in their political hatred, apologise to the Army?
