Operation Vijay or Portuguese-Indian War was the Indian armed forces intervention that led to the capture of Portugal's enclaves in India in 1961. The armed action - which involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours, ended 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa.In Goa, popular support had been built up against Portuguese colonial rule by civil leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia who advocated the use of non-violent Gandhian techniques to oppose the government. A major popular protest against colonial rule on the 18th of June 1946 was brutally suppressed by the Portuguese. Similarly, in 1954, the Portuguese used force to put down an attempt by non-violent Satyagrahi activists to march into Goa, and followed up with a purge of supporters of independence, many of whom were jailed. This action led to the closure of the Indian consulate in the city of Panjim in Goa in 1955 and the imposition of economic sanctions against Portuguese held territories.In addition to non violent protests, several armed groups such as the Azad Gomantak Dal (The Free Goa Party) conducted guerilla and terrorist operations against the Portuguese in Goa. In 1957, The Indian army deployed anti aircraft batteries near the Daman and Diu airfields and threatened to shoot down any aircraft that strayed into Indian airspace whilst taking off or landing at th newly built airports at these locations.
All 3 wings of the Defence, the Army, Navy and the IAF played pivotal roles in the operation. Images showing the preparations of the ground forces, one of the INS the Navy vessels used and destruction caused by the Airforce at Daman.
By October 1961, the decision was taken to use military force to oust the Portuguese from their Indian enclaves, and accordingly military resources were allocated for Operation Vijay.On November 24, 1961, the Sabarmati, a passenger boat passing between the Portuguese held island of Anjidiv and the Indian port of Kochi, was fired upon by Portuguese ground troops, resulting in injuries to the chief engineer of the boat, as well as the death of a passenger. The action was precipitated by Portuguese fears that the boat carried a military landing team intent on storming the island. A Portuguese investigation into the matter revealed that the boat had also been fired upon a week earlier—on November 17—when it accidentally strayed into Portuguese waters. The incidents lent themselves to foster widespread public support in India for a military invasion of Goa. Armed action was now imminent.
An earlier non violent attempt was suppressed. Images depicting that situation.
On receiving the go-ahead for military action and the mandate of the capture of all occupied territories from the Indian Government, Lt. Gen. Chaudhari of India's Southern Army fielded the 17th Infantry Division and the 50th Para Brigade commanded by Major General K.P. Candeth . The assault on the enclave of Daman was assigned to the 1st Maratha Light Infantry while the operations in Diu were assigned to the 20th Rajput and 4th Madras battalions.Meanwhile, The Commander in Chief of India's Western Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Erlic Pinto, was appointed as the commander of all air resources assigned to the operations in Goa. Air resources for the assault on Goa were concentrated in the bases at Pune and Sambre.The Indian navy deployed two warships—the INS Rajput, an 'R' Class destroyer, and the INS Kirpan, a Blackwood class anti-submarine frigate— off the coast of Goa. The actual attack on Goa was delegated to four task groups: a Surface Action Group comprising 5 ships: Mysore,Trishul, Betwa, Beas and Cauverya Carrier Group of 5 ships: INS Delhi, Kirpan, Khukri and Rajput centred around the light aircraft carrier Vikrant and a Mine Sweeping Group consisting of mine sweepers including Karwar,Kakinada, Cannonore and Bimilipatan and a Support Group which consisted of the Dharini. The AirForce was mainly involved in the following:
- The destruction of Goa’s lone airfield in Dabolimwithout causing damage to the terminal building and other airport facilities.
- Destruction of the wireless station at Bambolim Goa.
- Denial of airfields at Daman and Diu, which were, however, not to be attacked without prior permission.
- Support to advancing ground troops.
The Army requested close support now and then. And usually Vampires of No.45 flew Cabrank over the sector
A Canberra PR.9 taking off. Th Indian Air Force used the small and lightweight Canberra bombers with devastating effect in Goa. 
Ex-"Black Archers" Toofani (MD450 Ouragan) on display at the Indian Air Force Museum, Palam, New Delhi. The 1953 french made Ouregans - also called Toofanis by the Indians - formed the backbone of the air strikes on Diu. 
No.17 Squadron under Sqn Ldr Jayawant Singh attacked the Wireless station at Bambolim at 0715 Hours on the 18th. Seen above is the Radio Station burning and the Day after the strike (Below). Note the radio aerials in the right picture. 
The Indian Navy were belligerent in the following attacks:
1. The Storming of Anjidiv Island
2. Naval Battle at Mormugao harbour
3. Storming of Daman and then the Diu ports
The damaged Portuguese Frigate Albuquerque being inspected by Indian Admiral Katari in Mormugoa. The Frigate suffered serious damage after its encounter with Indian frigates the Beas and Betwa. After the war, the captured ship was repaired and sold. The Army was involved in ground operations.The target of the Indian ground attack in Goa was the securing of the capital town of Panjim as well as the harbour of Mormugao and the airport at Dabolim, and was a task assigned to the 17th Infantry Division
A Portuguese military officer salutes Indian army officers after formally offering his unit's surrender at a ceremony held at a captured army base near Panjim. By the evening of 19th December 1961, most of Goa had been taken over by advancing Indian infantry forces, and a large party of more than two thousand Portuguese soldiers had taken position at the port town of Vasco Da Gama. Per the Portuguese strategy code named ‘Plano Sentinela’ the defending forces were to make their last stand at the harbour, holding out against the Indians until Portuguese naval reinforcements could arrive. Orders delivered from the Portuguese President called for a scorched earth policy - that Goa was to be destroyed before it was given up to the Indians 
General Chaudhuri enters Panjim on 19th Dec. 61. Chaudhuri was the Army Commander controlling Operation Vijay. Brigadier
Sagat Singh of India's Maroon Beret Parachute regiment accepts the surrender of Portuguese forces at a military camp in Bambolim.
The official Portuguese surrender was conducted in a formal ceremony held at 2030 hours on the 19th of December when Governor General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva signed the instrument of surrender bringing to an end 451 years of Portuguese Rule in Goa. In all, approximately 3,306 Portuguese servicemen surrendered and were taken prisoner by the Indians. 
Portuguese POWs queue up to board an aircraft which will repatriate them to Karachi, and then back to Portugal.
The Indian Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Pran Thapar (far right) with deposed Governor General of Portuguese India Manuel António Vassalo e Silva (seated centre) at a POW facility in Vasco Da Gama, Goa
More info on: 1. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND%20FORCES/Army/History/1950s/Operation-Vijay.html