New Delhi: It is the oldest truth that the history of any war is always written by the winner. India’s victory and Pakistan’s defeat 51 years ago, however, even the loser accepts. Outgoing Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also accepted It didn’t matter in his farewell speech that he blamed his political class, not his army, for the debacle.
On the 51st anniversary of this battle, on 3 December 1971, this reporter walked around the National War Memorial at India Gate in New Delhi to see a panel listing the names of Indian soldiers killed in that battle.
The panels lead us to the stories of eight incredibly brave Indian soldiers, exclusively from the Army, Air Force and Navy, who laid down their lives for the country in that war, and were awarded the top gallantry medals, Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and Maha Vir Chakra (MVC). Through their stories, we revisit major battles and turning points of the war.
Param Vir Chakra Lance Naik Albert Ekka – Destroyer of Machine Guns
Lance Naik Albert Ekka got included in Indian Army in 1962 at the age of 20. A tribal from Jharkhand was recruited into the 14 Guards, a mechanized infantry regiment.
During the 1971 war, he made the supreme sacrifice in the Battle of Gangasagar on the first day, 3 December 1971, which was part of Operation Cactus Lily.
For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest wartime military decoration, on 26 January 1972. Citation said, “Lance Naik Albert Ekka was in the left forward company of a battalion of the Brigade of Guards during an attack on enemy positions at Gangasagar on the Eastern Front.”
“Lance Naik Albert Ekka sighted an enemy Light Machine Gun (LMG) which was inflicting heavy casualties on his company. With complete disregard to his personal safety, he charged into the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the LMG. Despite being grievously wounded in this encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades, clearing bunker after bunker with indomitable courage,” added the PVC citation.
Another enemy medium-machine gun (MMG) was firing on the company from a fortified position. Despite being wounded, Lance Naik Ekka crawled towards the enemy and hurled a grenade at the fort. However the firing continued.
Again, with little regard for his own safety, Ekka scales the fortification wall and bayonets the soldier firing the MMG, bringing an end to the attack. Ekka was seriously injured in the process and later died, explained the citation.
“In this action, Lance Naik Albert Ekka displayed most conspicuous gallantry and determination and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army,” the citation added.
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PVC 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal – Tank Destroyer
Arun Khetrapal, Pushed straight into combat from the National Defense Academy, he was a Second Lieutenant with the 17 Poona Horse, a fancier tank regiment of the Indian Army. He participated in the Battle of Basantar in the western (Samba-Shakargarh) sector in the Punjab. He was awarded PVC posthumously For his bravery in 1971.
By 15 December, the 47th Infantry Brigade, to which the 17th Poona Horse was assigned, had Established A bridgehead across the Basantar River. However, they could not advance due to enemy landmines left behind.
The next day, Pakistani troops counter-attacked Indian posts at Jarpal, further up the river. The number of Indian soldiers was more. The squadron commander present requested reinforcements, 2nd Lt Khetrapal answered the call and moved his squadron to assist Squadron B under fire, quoting telling,
As his squadron advanced, they came under enemy fire. However, Khetrapal “gave warning to the winds” and began attacking the Pakistanis by moving towards them – overrunning their defenses and holding them at gunpoint. The citation states, “He continued to attack until all enemy opposition was removed and he moved towards ‘B’ Squadron’s position.”
Through the fighting, the second lieutenant destroyed three enemy tanks. However, Pakistan retaliated by attacking his tank and injuring him.
On being asked to leave his tank, Khetrapal continued to attack, as he realized that if he left the tank, the enemy would break through. After this he took out the fourth Pakistani tank. The citation states, “At this stage, his tank was hit a second time, resulting in the death of this gallant officer.”
“It was an act of courage and self-sacrifice far greater than the call of duty.”
PVC Flying Officer Nirmal Jeet Singh Sekhon
Nirmal Jeet Singh Sekhon was commission In the Indian Air Force in 1967, he was part of the 97th General Duty Pilot Course and the 36th General Duty Navigator Course. In 1971, for going beyond the call of duty in the face of certain death, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. He is the only IAF member to receive this honour.
During the war, he was a pilot of No. 18 Squadron, ‘The Flying Bullets’ of the IAF flew Srinagar-based Folland Nat fighter aircraft to defend India from Pakistani airstrikes. The Nate aircraft is a compact, subsonic fighter aircraft.
From the start of the war, the Sekhons and their allies faced several Pakistani airstrikes. On 14 December 1971, six Saber enemy aircraft attacked the airfield at Srinagar. In-spite of this some delay During the sortie, Flying Officer Sekhon engaged two enemy aircraft against all odds.
In the ensuing fight, he killed one with a saber and set the other on fire. However, the remaining four Sabers sided and attacked Sekhon – he was outnumbered four to one. “At treetop height, he was all but eventually overcome by the weight of the numbers. His plane crashed and he was killed.” noted His PVC quote.
MVC Captain MN Mulla
MN Mulla joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1946 at the age of 20 as a cadet. By 1971, he was the captain of the Navy’s British-built Blackwood-class frigate INS Khukri.
when war broke out Captain Mulla He was commanding a task force of two ships including INS Khukri in the Western Fleet. The fleet was responsible for locating and taking out any enemy submarines in the Arabian Sea.
INS Khukri was hit by torpedoes from Pakistani submarine PNS Hangar on the night of 9 December 1971. This resulted in fatal damage to the Indian frigate.
“Having decided to abandon ship, Captain Mulla, without regard for his personal safety, supervised the rescue of his ship’s crew. Later, when the ship was sinking, Captain Mulla showed presence of mind and directed the rescue operations continued to do so and refused to save himself by giving his life-saving gear to a sailor,” notes His Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) citation.
After ensuring evacuation of maximum personnel onboard, Captain Mulla returned to the bridge to see if more evacuations could be carried out, however, he was seen going down with INS Khukri as a result.
“His actions and behavior and the example he set were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service. He displayed conspicuous gallantry and dedication,” added the citation.
4 Maha Vir Chakra awardees
Major Daljit Singh Narag He commanded a cavalry (tank) squadron and an infantry battalion on the Eastern Front at Garibpur village in present-day Bangladesh. India had moved troops to capture this village as it was located at an important confluence, Control of Garibpur would give access to the highway from Jessore to India.
While the attack was meant to be a surprise, due to skirmishes in the area, Pakistan had a sense of the impending attack. As a result, Maj Narag and his men were “attacked by two battalions of the enemy supported by a squadron of Chafee tanks. He operated his squadron skilfully and courageously in spite of heavy enemy fire and engaged and destroyed the enemy tanks”. done,” their MVC Citation notes.
“Without regard for his personal safety and heedless of heavy enemy fire, he directed the fire of his squadron standing on the turret of his tank. His courage and intrepidity so inspired his troops that they successfully destroyed an enemy squadron of Chaffee tanks and halted the enemy advance. Major Narag while leading his squadron was killed by machine gun fire on top of his tank,” the citation added.
Constable Pandurang Salunke Unit 15 Maratha Light Infantry was took Defensive position in an area north-east of Amritsar in 1971. By 6 December, he had also strengthened the Border Security Force (BSF) post at Burj, near Amritsar.
On the morning of 6 December, a company of 43 Balochs of the Pakistan Army attacked the Burj Post. As a result, during an attack by the Maratha Light Infantry, a Pakistani rocket launcher posed a threat to the Indian tanks attacking with the infantry.
“Feeling the danger to our tanks, Sepoy Pandurang Salunke, at great risk to his life, rushed towards the rocket launcher, jumped on the enemy and physically snatched the rocket launcher even though he had to shoot at point-blank range But the fire of the sten gun should be on the border. He calmed down the rocket launcher and made the supreme sacrifice. noted His posthumous MVC citation.
Lt. Col. Ved Prakash Ghai was commission In 1954 in 16 Madras Regiment. During the 1971 war, he commanded the regiment and played an essential role on the Western Front in the Battle of Basantar.
By 15 December, his battalion had crossed the Basantar River, captured the bridgehead, and cleared the mines left behind by the enemy. As a result, the Pakistanis launched brutal counter-attacks.
Lt Col Ghai united his men and was able to intimidate the enemy during the night. However, the next morning the Pakistanis attacked with tanks. He then moved to company positions, commanding and directing his unit, switching between various field posts. Motivated, they were able to repel the Pakistani attack.
After stabilising, on his way back to HQ, Lt Col Ghai was seriously injured by an enemy shell. “He continued to direct the battle, caring neither for his personal safety nor for medical treatment. He died of his wounds on the battlefield, thus making the supreme sacrifice of his life.” noted His MVC quote.
Captain Shankar Shankhpan Walker was commission in the Madras Regiment in 1969. During the 1971 war, he was the mortar officer of 18 Madras, posted on the Western Front.
Captain Walker’s Posthumous MVC Citation telling, “On 16 December 1971, when the battalion reached Hingor Tar after marching 42 miles it came under heavy fire from enemy positions. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Captain Walker went to each rifle company’s position to perform defensive fire tasks. In doing so, he was twice hit by shrapnel and sustained injuries, but refused to be evacuated and continued to display outstanding courage and devotion to duty.”
With fighting continuing until 17 December, Pakistan attacked two of the Company’s outposts. Despite being seriously wounded, Captain Walker inspired his men and shot at least four of the enemy soldiers, driving them back.
“However, he was mortally wounded in this action. He was wounded after firing the last round. He fought bravely till the last breath.”
(Editing by Therese Sudeep)
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