Shaurya Chakra Citation Confirms Army’s Covert Myanmar Operation

In a rare official disclosure, the Indian government has formally acknowledged a covert military operation conducted by the Indian Army along the Indo-Myanmar border in July 2025. The confirmation has come through a Shaurya Chakra citation, marking the first time such a cross-border action has been publicly recognised via a gallantry award document.

First formal acknowledgment of cross-border action

According to the citation, the operation was carried out between July 11 and 13, 2025, targeting camps of a notorious anti-national group operating from Myanmar. The action resulted in the elimination of nine armed cadres, including senior leaders. Official acknowledgment of such missions is uncommon, making this disclosure significant in India’s military and strategic communication landscape.

Shaurya Chakra and the officer honoured

The Shaurya Chakra was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar of the 21 Para (Special Forces) for planning and personally leading the precision strike. The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award, following the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra, and is conferred for exceptional courage away from the battlefield.

Context of the Myanmar operation

In July 2025, reports had emerged of drone strikes on mobile camps of the banned insurgent group United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) in Myanmar. At the time, the Indian Army officially denied involvement. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also stated that state police agencies had no role in any such operation. The Shaurya Chakra citation, while not naming the organisation, confirms that camps of an anti-national group were targeted during the operation.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award.
• Cross-border military operations are rarely acknowledged officially.
• ULFA-I operates from mobile camps along the Indo-Myanmar border.
• The Indo-Myanmar border stretches approximately 1,600 kilometres.

Strategic implications of the disclosure

The citation’s wording avoids operational specifics but signals India’s resolve against insurgent groups using foreign soil as a safe haven. It also reflects a calibrated shift towards selective transparency, reinforcing deterrence while maintaining operational secrecy in sensitive military matters.