Shaurya Chakra Citation Reveals Rare Confirmation of Cross-Border Military Action

India Confirms Covert Army Operation on Indo-Myanmar Border Through Gallantry Citation

In a rare moment of official transparency, 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 emerged through the citation of a Shaurya Chakra , marking the first time a cross-border action of this nature has been publicly recognised via a gallantry award document.

First Official Disclosure of a Cross-Border Strike

According to the citation, the operation was executed between July 11 and July 13, 2025 , against camps of a notorious anti-national group operating from Myanmar . The precision mission led to the neutralisation of nine armed cadres , including senior leadership figures.

Such operations are typically kept outside the public domain, making this acknowledgement significant in India’s military communication practice. While the citation avoids operational details, its confirmation itself signals a deliberate and carefully calibrated disclosure.

Officer Honoured with Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra has been awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar of the 21 Para (Special Forces) . He was recognised for meticulously planning and personally leading the high-risk operation in challenging terrain.

The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award , conferred for acts of exceptional bravery not in direct wartime combat. The citation highlights leadership, courage, and tactical excellence under sensitive operational conditions.

Background of the Myanmar Border Operation

In July 2025, media reports had surfaced regarding drone strikes on mobile insurgent camps in Myanmar , allegedly targeting the banned outfit ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I) . At the time, the Indian Army officially denied involvement, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma clarified that state police agencies had no role in any such action.

The current citation does not name ULFA-I or specify the use of drones but confirms that anti-national elements using foreign territory as a base were targeted , validating earlier speculation without contradicting past official denials.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award

• Cross-border military operations are rarely acknowledged in official records

• ULFA-I is a banned insurgent group operating near the Indo-Myanmar border

• The Indo-Myanmar border is approximately 1,600 km long

Strategic and Policy Implications

The wording of the citation reflects a measured shift towards selective transparency . By acknowledging the operation through a gallantry award rather than a formal statement, India reinforces its resolve against insurgent groups using foreign soil as sanctuaries, while preserving operational secrecy.

This approach strengthens deterrence, signals capability and intent, and aligns with India’s broader counter-insurgency posture in the Northeast and along sensitive international borders.