Surgical strike boosted morale of armed forces

The Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre also said that all those who participated in the surgical strike were suitably rewarded.

New Delhi, March 10: The surgical strike at the terror launch pads in PoK last year resulted in 'significant casualties' to the terrorists and their supporters across the border, government said on Friday.

"During the surgical strike, significant casualties were done to terrorists and those who provide support to terrorists," Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

The surgical strike on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, 2016, was carried out by the army to foil the designs of Pakistan-based terrorist groups to strike on Indian security forces and other places of importance, he said.

It also came as a 'huge morale booster' for the rank and file of the security forces, Bhamre said. Though no specific assessment of psychological conditions/morale of defence personnel has been carried out after the surgical strike, he said "notwithstanding this, surgical strikes by themselves were a huge booster for the rank and file of the Armed Forces."

The Minister also said that all those who participated in the surgical strike were suitably rewarded.

PTI