Celebrating 51 years of Chachro raid- India’s most daring surgical strike in Pak

“51 years ago, on this day, the brave soldiers of the 10 Para Special Forces infiltrated enemy territory in a daring desert raid under the leadership of Late HH Brigadier Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh, MVC and captured the outpost of Chachro in Pakistan.”

During the 1971 war on the Western Front, 10 PARA (Commandos) conducted an operation to bombard Pakistan 70-80 kilometers into its interior, a special forces operation unparalleled in history. It can also be considered India’s first and most daring surgical strike. A series of raids were carried out across the international border by 10 PARA SF. Specifically, the mission was to assist Indian Army operations and weaken Pakistan's Line of Communication beyond Barmer Sector, Rajasthan.

The raids were conducted in the early hours of December 7, 1971, when men from 10 PARA divided into two separate units: Alpha and Charlie led by Late HH Brigadier Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh infiltrated deep inside enemy territory and carried out raids on enemy positions at Chachro and Virwah located in Sindh province of Pakistan.

The team traveled over 50 km inside enemy territory, hitting Pakistani positions. The Alpha team led by Brig. Abraham Chacko attacked Chachro, where most enemies fled their positions, thinking that their approaching Jongas were none other than enemy tanks.

Despite having superior numbers and positions, the speed and ferocity of these attacks forced enemies to panic and flee.