New Delhi, September 29: This day, two years ago, the Indian Army carried out an operation that destroyed terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The Indian Army also destroyed Pakistan bunkers to avenge the Uri terror attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were martyred. In the surgical strikes of September 29, 2016, Indian soldiers killed 38 terrorists and two Pakistani soldiers in a 4-hour long operation.

Two years on, India is today celebrating Parakram Parv (Surgical Strike Day) to commemorate the jawans who avenged the killings of Indian soldiers in the Uri attack by four terrorists. The Narendra Modi government has inaugurated a three-day Parakram Parv celebration across the country with several events planned in over 50 cities.

Why India carried out Surgical Strike in 2016

On the intervening night of September 18 and 19, 2016, four terrorists lobbed 17 grenades in three minutes on the 12th Brigade of the Indian Army in Uri sector. On the early morning of September 19, terrorists attacked the administrative block of the Army. The terrorists were gunned down after a six-hour long gunbattle. Surgical Strike Video: Fresh Visuals of September 29, 2016, Indian Army Operation in PoK Surface

While the country lost 18 soldiers, over 20 jawans were also injured in the attack. The attacks had come just months after an attack by terrorists on the Pathankot air base in which seven Indian jawans were martyred.

It was time for India to act against the terror camps along the border on the Pakistani side since Pakistan was not destroying them on its own. Just ten days after the Uri attack, the Indian Army launched a surgical strike in PoK.

How Indian Army Carried Out Surgical Strike

The surgical strikes were carried out by the Indian Army in Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel and Lipa sectors in the Pakistan side of the Line of Control. The Army and Special Forces commandos were airdropped at the LoC from where they crossed to the Pakistani side.

A few days ago, former Nagrota Corps commander Lt Gen Rajendra Nimborkar said that they carried leopard urine while carrying out the strike as they knew that dogs were scared of leopards and would not bark if they smell leopards around.

"There was a possibility of dogs in villages barking at us on the route. I knew they are scared of leopards. We carried leopard urine with us & that worked & dogs didn't dare to come forward," he said.

The Indian jawans entered 3 km into the Pakistan side and destroyed at least seven terror camps while killing 38 terrorists and two Pakistani jawans.

Recently, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat said that India was ready for another such operation against Pakistan if the need arises.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 05:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).