Operations against rebel groups normal affair: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Stressing that "the government has denied there was a surgical strike on NSCN(K) militants during a firefight along the border with Myanmar", Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said from time to time, there have been engagements between paramilitary forces and the rebel groups.

On the question of surgical strike, Chidambaram jokingly said: "The doctors have told me that they wish to rename what they do -- surgery... They wish to rename that, they must find another word.

"Everything in this country is a surgical strike. In the India-Myanmar border, there are dense forests which always have sanctuaries for rebel groups. As far as we are concerned, some of the militant groups take shelter there."

"From time to time, at the border, there is engagement between our paramilitary forces and those rebel groups. It has happened before. It has happened many times when I was the Home Minister. This happened before.

"If you ask L.K. Advaniji, he will tell you the same thing. If you ask Sushil Kumar Shindeji, he will tell you the same thing. But in this government, whenever they face a bad day, they have to do a surgical strike somewhere," he added.

Chidambaram also said: "Government has denied (it being a surgical strike). Yet, some sections of the media are reporting it as surgical strike. So, I have to conclude it is being done for that section of the media.

"The government has denied that there was anything like a surgical strike. I do not know, I haven't heard it," he added.

The Indian Army on Wednesday said it has inflicted "heavy casualties" on NSCN (K) militants during a firefight along the border with Myanmar, but clarified that it was "not a surgical strike".