Battle of Basantar

The Battle of Basantar, fought between December 4 and 16, was one of the vital battles that saw Indian troops winning a hard-fought battle and securing the area along the Basantar river in the Punjab-Jammu sector. Invading the Shakargarh bulge was a crucial component of Pakistan’s war strategy in the western sector, where it had hoped that by occupying the bulge, the main Indian link between Kashmir and Pathankot would be cut-off, following which, it could easily invade Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian I Corps, including armoured and engineer elements, moved into the sector to capture the key areas. As they advanced, they were met with a series of minefields and by stiff Pakistani resistance. Despite being at a quantitative and qualitative disadvantage, Indian troops made massive gains during the final days of the battle and repelled the Pakistani counterattack, coming very close to capturing Sialkot. It was in this sector that Lt. Arun Khetarpal of the Poona Horse hit 10 enemy tanks before he was killed in action, for which he was decorated posthumously with the Param Vir Chakra. India had gained control of more than thousand sq miles of Pakistani territory, but a large chunk was later vacated.

Battle of Hilli

Also known as the Battle of Bogra, fought by the 20 Mountain Division between November 23 to December 11, it is regarded as the most pitched battle in the Eastern Theatre. Indian Army’s main objective was to control Bogra, thereby cutting off the Pakistani forces in the north from the rest of East Pakistan. This battle had started before the official declaration of the war, but continued right until the formal surrender by Pakistan. The best way of getting to Bogra was through Hilli. The frontal assault on the Pakistan fortifications took a huge toll on both sides, before the Indian forces finally broke through by establishing a block in the rear of Pakistani forces in Hilli. The commander of the Pakistani brigade in this sector was severely injured in an ambush by the Mukti Bahni and captured. After he was evacuated to an Indian hospital, a Pakistani major was especially flown in for the surrender of this brigade on December 18. It was in this battle that Lance Naik Albert Ekka of 14 Guards received the only Param Vir Chakra posthumously to be awarded in the Eastern Sector during the 1971 War. 

Battle of Sylhet

Quite significant and successful operation undertaken in the Eastern Theatre between December 7-15, it was the Indian Army’s first heli-borne operation. Located in north-east Bangladesh with two Pakistani brigades having moved there, Sylhet was headquarters of a large district and a communications center, thereby making it important from the military and geographical point of view as its fall would be severe setback to the enemy. Some Indian troops were heli-dropped near Sylhet on December 10 and engaged the enemy, with gun fights erupting over the next few days. The next day, close air support was provided by three IAF Hunters that attacked Pakistani positions, though different Indian battalions did not link up initially as planned. Counter-attacks launched by the Pakistani forces failed to dislodge Indian troops entrenched in their positions and by December 12, further supplies replenished Indian ammunition stocks. Physical and psychological pressure on the Pakistanis was kept up and on December 15, a day before the official Pakistani surrender, Indian forward positions reported a large concentration of enemy troops ahead of them, with some persons holding white flags. The same day, the Pakistani station commander met the Indian Brigade Commander to work out the details of the surrender. The men of the Sylhet Garrison who surrendered included three Brigadiers, one Colonel, 107 officers and 6,448 other ranks.

Battle of Longewala

Perhaps the most glamourised battle of the war, it took place in the deserts of Rajasthan on December 4-7 and was one of the first major engagements in the Western Theatre. Considered an epic battle where a handful of infantrymen from 23 Punjab held up a night assault by an armoured-supported Pakistani brigade, the battle saw heavy Pakistani losses and subsequent withdrawal. The Pakistani offensive began a little after midnight with medium artillery targeting the Indian post. The post was under the command of Maj (later Brigadier) KS Chandpuri, who was decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra. The initial attack stalled almost immediately after 12 enemy tanks were hit and the enemy suspected a minefield ahead of them. Armoured vehicles from the second attack that tried to surround the post were bogged down in sand and gun battles continued through the night, with the Pakistanis being unable to advance. As dawn broke, Pakistan forces still could not overrun the post and in the morning the Indian Air Force was able to launch HF-24 Maruts and Hawker Hunter aircraft for providing air support and Pakistani tanks and vehicles were sitting ducks for them. By noon the next day, the assault completely fizzled out, with 100 vehicles claimed to have been destroyed, including 22 tanks by aircraft, 12 by ground anti-tank fire, and some being captured after being abandoned.

Battle of Garibpur

Garibpur in north-east Bangladesh was at an important location for both nations and its control was vital as it included a highway to Jessore from India. On November 21, the 14 Punjab Battalion, supported by a squadron of 14 PT-76 tanks from 45 Cavalry, moved in to capture the areas around Garibpur inside the Pakistani territory. Pakistan responded with a brigade supported by armour and aircraft. The Punjab Battalion set up defensive positions to face a counterattack while tanks were sent forward to ambush the oncoming Pakistani troops. Over the next few hours, Indian troops pounded the Pakistani formations who couldn’t pinpoint the source of attacks due to poor visibility. Despite this, Pakistan tanks and infantry launched an offensive against Indian defensive positions, but these were again repulsed resulting in heavy Pakistani casualties. A dozen Pakistani tanks were destroyed and another three captured in working condition, while the Indians lost six PT-76s. The Pakistani brigade was severely battered with most of its original strength depleted. The battle coming just weeks before the official start of the war had an unexpected turn of events, where a single battalion had been able to neutralise an entire brigade supported by an air force and artillery. — Vijay Mohan