The Bahadur Group, or the Special Services Group as it was initially formed, was a
Special Forces
Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
unit within the
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army (INA; ''Azad Hind Fauj'' ; 'Free Indian Army') was a collaborationist armed force formed by Indian collaborators and Imperial Japan on 1 September 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Its aim was to secure In ...
that was tasked with frontline intelligence as well as subversion and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. This was the INA's second special forces unit besides the Intelligence group led by
Colonel Shaukat Hayat Malik
Colonel Shaukat Ali Malik was an officer of the Indian National Army notable for having led a unit of the Bahadur Group in the capture of Moirang during the initial phases of the INA's Imphal Campaign during World War II. Moirang was the first t ...
of Bhawalpur Regiment who is credited with raising the flag of
Azad Hind
The Provisional Government of Free India (''Ārzī Hukūmat-e-Āzād Hind'') or, more simply, ''Azad Hind'', was an Indian provisional government established in Japanese occupied Singapore during World War II. It was created in October 1943 ...
in
Moirang
Moirang is a town in the Indian state of Manipur. It is situated approximately 45 km south of the state capital Imphal. It has an area of 269 km2 with a population of 62,187 in 67 villages. It is best known for the being the place of o ...
in 14 April 1944, an event accepted as one of the first instances of the liberation of Indian soil by an independent Indian government.
They were two parts to the organization: the Special Service Group and the Secret Service Group. Both of these groups were trained in commando tactics, sabotage,intelligence collection and deep penetration missions in India while some members received training in Linguistics in order to liaison with local Japanese units. Usually operating in groups of 8 to 10 members of the Bahadur group were attached to local Japanese divisions in order to spread propaganda among Indian troops in the British Indian army and to act as pathfinders.
Military units and formations of the Indian National Army
Special forces
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