Arun Kumar Chhabra, SM

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra was commissioned into the 10 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), the elite unit raised on 01 June 1967 and known as the "Desert Scorpions" for its specialised desert-warfare training. Within four years of its raising, the unit took part in the 1971 war and executed the celebrated Chachro Raid, one of the most successful commando operations in military history and a case study for special forces worldwide. Over the course of his service career, Lt Col Chhabra participated in numerous daring operations and, by 1987, had grown into a battle-hardened soldier and an inspiring leader of men. When Indian forces were deployed to Sri Lanka as part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, his unit joined the Indian Peace Keeping Force and plunged into Operation Pawan against the LTTE. By 1989 he was serving as the second-in-command of 10 Para (SF) and was soon to take over as its Commanding Officer. On 14 October 1989 he personally led a bold assault on a heavily armed LTTE stronghold. In the fierce firefight that followed, he killed two militants before being fatally shot, laying down his life for the nation. He was awarded the Sena Medal.