Битва за Басантар: Ключевое сражение Индо-Пакистанской войны 1971 года.

Battle of the Indo Pakistani War of 1971

The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind (December 4–16, 1971), was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector.

Basantar river is a tributary of the Ravi River that flows in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. This battle took place in the Shakargarh Sector or the Shakargarh Bulge that includes Jarpal and surrounding areas. The bulge was close to (5–15 miles) India's main road link to Kashmir. By contrast, the area was not as vital for Pakistan. The Indian I Corps had three infantry divisions, two Armoured Brigades, two independent artillery brigades and an engineer brigade. The aim of the Indian Army was to bridge the Basantar river — the entry to which was fully land mined — and take control of the Shakargarh bulge. It was reasoned that such an offensive would also secure the Pathankot army base from any attacks from Pakistan.

75 Medium Regiment was placed in direct support of 16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade and remained so throughout the operation. The 47 Infantry Brigade and 91 Infantry Brigade along with 17 Horse sped forward towards Basantar. Observation Post Officers of 75 Medium Regiment with these formations and units engaged a large number of active enemy targets including missile, launching bases and RCLs in area Lagwal. A number of direct hits on enemy tanks were scored by the Regiment enhancing the morale of troops. Battle of Basantar bridgehead was an outstanding example of a well integrated all arms battle, which turned the flank of a major enemy fortified obstacle and opened the way for Dhamtal and Zafarwal. The battle involved the breaching of minefield across Basantar about 1600 m in depth, establishing a bridgehead across the minefield clearing enemy pockets of resistance and enlarging the bridgehead, inducting troops across the minefield under heavy artillery fire and finally repulsing a number of enemy counterattacks with armour and infantry supported by air. A heavy concentration of accurate artillery fire was provided by the Regiment during this battle. The Regiment, in addition to 2 Observation Post Officers each with the forward Squadrons of 4 Horse and 17 Horse respectively, provided an Observation Post Officer with 18 Rajputana Rifles (APC) and one Observation Post Officer each with 47 Infantry Brigade and 91 Infantry Brigade, respectively. The Regiment provided intimate medium artillery fire support throughout the battle. On the morning of 16 December 1971, Captain Satish Chander Sehgal the Observation Post Officer with 17 Horse, who in addition to his duties of Observation Post Officer was performing the duty of the Commander of his tank, engaged enemy tanks 200 yards away which were attempting to withdraw behind a smokescreen. He brought down large crumps of medium artillery fire forcing the enemy tanks to withdraw into a forest nearby, he then charged forward and destroyed the enemy tank trying to escape with his tank gun. In the action that pursued, his own tank was hit and caught fire. With utter disregard for his safety, he along with his Radio Operator, helped to extricate the Driver and Gunner from the burning tank. While doing so he was hit by enemy machine gun fire and was killed in action. Thereafter the artillery engagement continued with the remaining forward observers passing corrections to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel KN Thadani, over the armour net. The intimate artillery fire support provided by the Regiment to the advancing armoured Squadrons made a significant contribution in immobilizing the enemy, thereby facilitating our advance across the bridgehead. In support of this action the Commanding Officer of the Regiment also planned and coordinated the artillery fire of 54 Artillery Brigade and 41 (Independent) Artillery Brigade. After the battle, the Commander of 16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade, Brigadier AS Vaidya MVC, came to the gun position of the Regiment and told the gunners that he would like to have the Regiment with him again for the next round of battle. It was heartwarming for the gunners to listen to their Commander.

In the Shakargarh sector, Indian tanks were inducted into enemy territory through a safe passage created by the 9 Engineer Regiment. The 9 Engineer Regiment, composed of South Indian troops, was placed under the command of 54 Infantry Division. The regiment comprised three field companies, namely 404, 405 and 406, which were individually allotted to each of the three Infantry Brigades of 54 Infantry Division. At the commencement of the 1971 Indo Pak war, 9 Engineer Regiment was to assist its sister battalion, 5 Engineer Regiment, in support of its offensive in the Samba Zafarwal alignment. The advance was through a seemingly impassable terrain, fortified at a number of places by Pakistani forces with extensive minefields all along likely approach routes of ingress. On December 5, 1971, at about 7.30 pm, 2/Lieutenant NP Singh of the regiment left with his task force for Dera Post from where they started laying an operational track for the Indian offensive. At about 9.30 pm, the leading task force entered Pakistani territory. The Regiment's Commanding Officer, Lt Col BT Pandit, after briefly supervising this specialized task, proceeded ahead in order to guide his men. He came out very successfully in this delicate task. On December 6, at about 2.30 pm, the track was completed up to Badala Gujran in Pakistan. On December 7, for breaching the minefield in area Thakurdwara, 404 Field Company was placed under the command of 47 Infantry Brigade from 8 pm onwards. Nearby, the other field company of regiment 405 Field Company in conjunction with trawls, breached a vehicle safe lane, 5 meters wide and 500 meters long, in one hour. Thereafter, a field company of 5 Engineer Regiment and a platoon of 404 Field Company widened this lane by one meter.

On December 8, 404 Field Company, on completing its task with 47 Infantry Brigade, was earmarked for providing engineer support to 91 Infantry Brigade. Simultaneously, 405 Field Company was rendered engineering support for the advance of 16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade in the area south and south west of Bari. Meanwhile, 406 Field Company extended the operational track beyond Tarakwal. On December 9, 404 Field Company was earmarked for 74 Infantry Brigade. The operational track was then connected to Bari following which the maintenance of the entire length of track continued. On the night of December 10/11, a platoon of 405 Field Company, deployed with 16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade and commanded by Naib Subedar Doraiswamy, was employed on minefield breaching task with trawls. At about 11pm, the build up of armour into the bridgehead was seriously hampered by a damaged tank obstructed traffic through the lane. Reopening of the lane was of utmost importance in order to successfully ensure the defence of the bridgehead. Naib Subedar Doraiswamy, on his own initiative and displaying exemplary courage, took a small party forward through the Pakistani artillery barrage and succeeded in hand breaching a detour round the stalled tank ensuring speedy induction of armour and essential infantry support weapons through the minefield and into the bridgehead. On December 11, a diversion on the Mawa Pangdaur road was constructed for the free movement of vehicles. Three reconnaissance patrols of 404 Field Company advanced with 91 Infantry Brigade to three different points for minefield reconnaissance. A second minefield lane was lined with the operational track on December 12. Simultaneously, 405 Field Company also cleared a minefield lane for the 16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade. On December 13 night, it breached an enemy minefield with trawls 1,300 meters deep, north of Lohara and further extended it up to Lohara. On December 15, an Engineer Task Force comprising elements of 404, 405 and 406 Field Companies was grouped with 47 Infantry Brigade for crossing Basantar in the Lagwal area. The task involved extension of the operational track from Lohara to Lagwal, breaching of an enemy minefield at Basantar, improvement of crossing the riverbed and construction of crossing points on two marshy nullahs which were subsidiary obstacles. The work commenced at 8 pm on December 15 and was carried out under intense Pakistani small arms, tanks and artillery fire. The Task Force, under Major VR Choudhary, was deployed for breaching minefield and constructing a passage for tanks and other vehicles through the river Basantar in Lagwal area. On reaching the obstacle at about 8.30 pm, the Task Force found the situation very confusing on account of intense shelling and small arms fire which was further aggravated because of scanty information about the obstacle itself. As conventional reconnaissance would have taken considerable time, the Task Force Commander decided to disregard normal drills and safety precautions and to send a small party on a wide frontage at normal walking speed. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Captain Ravinder Nath Gupta displayed exemplary bravery and volunteered for this hazardous task and led a small party of one junior commissioned officer and two other ranks right up to the far edge of the minefield. Despite the grave risk involved and very intense enemy fire, he and his party brought back vital data by 9.30 pm which enabled the task to be successfully completed by 2.30 am on December 16. This enabled 17 Horse with two companies to be inducted into the bridgehead by 3 am, well in time to take on the enemy's counter attacks and eventually lead to the destruction of the enemy armoured formation west of river Basantar. Subsequently, when the enemy put up in a counter attack, Captain Ravinder Nath Gupta personally guided tanks of 17 Horse through the cleared minefield lane for which marking was still in progress. Major VR Choudhary, Major SS Malik, Captain Ravinder Nath Gupta, 2/Lieutenant KM Mandanna, two Junior Commissioned Officers and two Other Ranks were killed in action. Major SP Sharma and 12 Other Ranks were wounded in action in the shelling. Operations ceased at 8 pm on December 17. The War Diary of the regiment records: “After overcoming the initial shock of the death of our gallant Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks, we are prepared to breach more Basantars." After the war the 9 Engineer Regiment was awarded the battle honour "Basantar River" and Theatre Honour "Punjab" for their heroic exploits during the Indo Pak War of 1971 (Operation Cactus Lily); and is proudly called "Basantar Regiment".

Invading into Indian territory beyond the Shakargarh bulge was one of the most crucial components of Pakistan's war strategy in the western sector. Pakistan hoped that by occupying Indian territory beyond the bulge, the main link between Kashmir and Pathankot would be cut off, following which, it could easily invade Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani military forces stationed in Sialkot base would keep Pathankot at bay, thwarting any Indian attempts to capture Shakargarh. However, Pakistan's battle plans were jeopardized because of the ingenuity of a bold attack by India. The Indian Army attacked Pakistani positions in the region within four days of the declaration of the state of war, catching the Pakistanis completely by surprise. After a few days of intense fighting, the Indian Army had not only pushed the Pakistanis back, but had also come close to capturing Sialkot. This and other battles put paid to any Pakistani hopes of bargaining for territory lost in East Pakistan, by capturing Indian territory. In fact, Pakistan lost around 15,000 km² territory in West Pakistan. This captured territory was returned to Pakistan after Shimla Agreement. The Indian Army, on the other hand, was criticized for their somewhat timid handling of the attack on Sialkot. The Army, however, stated that it was planning another assault on Sialkot with close air support from the Indian Air Force, when the cease fire was declared. The Pakistani Patton tank disabled during the Battle of Basantar in Pakistan, is now a War Trophy given to the 54th Infantry Division by the Indian Army, and an attraction for visitors to the Tank Bund Road in the South Indian city of Hyderabad. The 47 Infantry Brigade, part of the 54th Infantry Division, was christened Basantar Brigade after the war.

1971: Beyond Borders (2017) directed by Major Ravi (with Mohanlal as Colonel Mahadevan fourth in Major Mahadevan film series, modeled on Hoshiar Singh Dahiya Param Vir Chakra and Allu Sirish as Arun Khetarpal Param Vir Chakra PVC, Arunoday Singh as Col. Raza (Pakistan).