Bhatt, a Gorkha officer, replaces Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, who has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Mathura-based Strike 1 Corps -- one of the three assault forces of the army -- which is mandated to cross into Pakistan in a short notice.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs will be briefed on Indo-Pak relations with specific reference to recent surgical strikes.
At least 20 other soldiers are injured including some very seriously.
Indian DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh raised the issue of infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and "unethical act of mutilation of the body of Indian soldiers close to the Line of Control by terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan".
Security agencies were apprehending that terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir could step up attacks against security forces and civilians following the surgical strike conducted by the Army targeting terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Kirti Chakra was posthumously conferred on CRPF Commandant Pramod Kumar and Army Havildar Giris Gurung.
It is believed that the attack was the handiwork of a freshly-infiltrated group of terrorists who could have entered along the Salamabad Nallah into the town.
They justified the strikes, saying the forces had entered into Indian territory occupied by Pakistan.
Gen Singh said the operations were basically focused to ensure that the terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction and endangering the lives of citizens of our country.
The intensity of the fire was so high that people in the villages around were woken up to a loud noise, with their houses shaking.
'This is what we train for: That one chance to deliver a blow so lethal that the enemy will constantly think about it when planning any misadventure.'
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