Panaji: Gouops that are old enough to remember the day, remember where they were and what they did on December 18, 1961, when the Indian Armed Forces launched a three-branch attack to free Goa.
That morning began like the others for most people, but to recruit the young Navy, Kancraj Sharma, it didn’t run too well.
Sharma is part of the Indian Navy coastal landing party assigned to Anjediva Island invaded in an effort to drive the Portuguese.
“I was only over 18 years old, recruited raw,” Sharma said, 80.
With a challenging Portugal refusing to leave Goa, India has no choice but to use colonial power.
The hostile Portuguese troops under Governor General Vassalo e Silva will fire indiscriminately in the local fishermen, and even shoot on a merchant ship, Sabarmati, pushed the Indian Navy to start Chutney.
At that time, the Indian Navy had begun preparing for amphibious attacks on Anjediva.
In early November 1961, the Naval Headquarters asked the Naval Station at INS Vendruthy, Cochin, for volunteers from Gunnery School.
The young sailors were told that they were preparing for the sea celebration of the sea in December.
Two young officers, Lieutenant Arun Auditto and Lieutenant (SD-G) Noel Kelman, a senior shooter assigned, along with new recruitment, picked.
Sharma is one of them.
Auditto was placed in command and Kelman in second place.
“The people were placed through basic training such as crawling while carrying weapons such as rifles, Bren and machine guns, mortars, grenades, and demolition equipment.
After a brief training but intensive, the coastal attack forces began the Trishul in Cochin on December 16 and sailed for the island.
From Karwar, “Auditto said, who retired as an Admiral behind, in his writings.
INS Trishul arrived not far from Karwar, and on December 18, the 80-person Ground attack team woke up 4am, was nervous but eager to invade the island.
Ironically, landing venues are known as women’s beaches.
However, on the early daylight, the surveillance noticed that the Portuguese garrison on the island had lifted the white flag on the top of the hill at the north end of the island.
The first wave of the landing party quickly entered the boat and walked to the island without events.
The remaining sailors under Kelman’s command began to walk to the island 15 minutes later.
Sharma is part of the second wave, and this is when the Portuguese opens fire with a machine gun from rampart overlooking the beach.
“I don’t remember much of what happened at that time.
I was doing a Seaman Gunnery course at INS Vendruthy, and the next time, I fought on the ground on the island,” Sharma said, talking to Toi.
He was given a split by the Indian Navy on December 14 for his role in operation.
Portuguese Machine Gun Fire killed five sailors instantly and Kelman received a gunshot wound in both thighs.
“Kelman, with a massive presence of mind, proceeded to the beach, Zig-Zagging a boat to fight a shot,” Commodore Srikant Kinal said when he told Kelman’s heroism.
Sharma, along with other sailors, take refuge behind anything – rocks, bushes or trees – jump from the lid to cover when they walk to the Portuguese garrison.
After several rounds of 4.7-inch bofors weapons in Wrishul, Portuguese troops realized it was in vain and put their hands.
“The last post I was in Goa and I decided to settle here because my hometown in Punjab was turbulent because of the Khalistan movement,” Sharma said.
Auditto, Kelman and others involved in the action were given to the Gallantry Awards.
A warning was then established on Anjediva Island, to commemorate those who have made the highest sacrifice.
The pioneer of the Navy submarine arm, Admiral behind Arun Auditto died earlier this year in April at the age of 86.
The Naval War Hero and Chakra Chakra Commander Chakra Noel Kelman died in August 2019 in Porvorim, at the age of 92.