New Delhi: Lieutenant Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar of 21 Para SF (special forces) has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for planning and leading a precision strike along the Indo-Myanmar border that led to the elimination of the senior leadership of an “anti-national group”.
While the Army has remained tight-lipped about the operation so far, initial details came to light on 13 July last year when United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), headed by Paresh Baruah, issued multiple statements claiming that its eastern headquarters in Myanmar had been targeted by the Indian Army with drones in the early hours.
The Army had at the time denied any such operation.
However, on the eve of Republic Day 2026, the President approved the conferment of Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards on Army personnel for their courage in operations and sustained distinguished service across operational and command appointments.
Lieutenant Colonel Shrikumar has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the country’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Army sources said he has been awarded the same for actions in the period between 11 and 13 July 2025, when he planned and personally led a precision strike along the Indo-Myanmar Border.
This operation, it is learnt, resulted in the complete “destruction of a fortified militant camp and elimination of nine armed cadres including senior leadership of a notorious anti-national group through exemplary leadership and tactical brilliance”.
The ULFA-I had said that the outfit’s self-proclaimed Lieutenant General Nayan Medhi (alias Nayan Asom) had been killed and that while his last rites were being conducted, fresh strikes took place in which self-styled Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom were also killed.
ULFA-I differs from the pro-talks faction of the group and demands the inclusion of a sovereign Assam in any proposed talks.
Incidentally, the July operation was preceded by another incident for which Major Arshdeep Singh of 1 Assam Rifles has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Army sources said that on 14 May 2025, Major Singh was leading a special patrol along the Indo-Myanmar Border when they came under sudden and unprovoked fire from a dominating height.
“He fearlessly assaulted the position through dense undergrowth and, despite intense enemy fire, neutralised multiple armed cadres including one armed with an RPG launcher, ensuring zero casualties to own troops through exceptional leadership, gallantry and resolve,” an Army source told ThePrint.
It is not yet clear at this time if this incident is what led the Army to launch the operation in July.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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