No. 11/2019 AN INDIAN ARMY PUBLICATION November 2019 BATTLE OF REZANG LA 18 NOVEMBER 1962 n epic battle was fought between of their trenches and engaged the enemy in hand ‘C’ Company of l3 KUMAON to hand combat, before attaining martyrdom. Acommanded by Late Major Shaitan After capturing two Platoons, while the enemy Singh, PVC and thousands of invading troops of was regrouping to attack the third Platoon and People`s Liberation Army on 18 November 1962 Company Headquarters, Naik Sahi Ram waited at Rezang La, about 19 miles South of Village for the Chinese to assemble before opening up Chushul, guarding the South-East approach to the Light Machine Gun & killing several Chinese Chushul Valley in Ladakh. soldiers. Major Shaitan Singh resited rest of the Light Machine Guns which kept firing until they The attack on Rezang La was launched on were silenced. The gallant Company Commander 18 November 1962. A patrol from ‘C’ Company received two bursts of Machine Gun fire in his detected the Chinese in their Forward Assembly arm and abdomen while moving from bunker to Area at 0400 hours. The first wave of attack came bunker raising morale of his men and continued to at 0500 hours, which was beaten back with heavy fight despite being seriously wounded. The enemy enemy casualties. On failure of their first attack, was finally stalled at Rezang La. It was due to the the Chinese pounded Rezang La with heavy endless courage, bravery and fighting capability of Artillery and Mortar fire of high intensity. Under the ‘Veer Ahirs’. covering fire, the Chinese launched their second wave on two platoons simultaneously but the The Battalion sacrificed 114 heroes which intensity of own fire forced them to abandon the included one officer and two Junior Commissioned attacks. The Chinese then attacked a platoon from Officers, who preferred to die fighting than the West. Due to numerical superiority and fire surrender even an inch of their motherland. The power, the position fell in the hands of advancing Battalion became the proud recipient of Battle Chinese troops. All men died in their trenches Honour `REZANG LA’ and Theatre Honour including the medical orderly Sepoy Dharam `LADAKH’. Subsequently, ‘C’ Company was re- Pal Dahaiya, who was found holding a morphine raised & rechristened as ‘Rezang La Company’ in syringe and a bandage in his hand. The Chinese 1963. The Company Commander, Major Shaitan continued advancing towards the depth section Singh was awarded the Param Veer Chakra position on Top where a dozen Ahirs jumped out posthumously. “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened” 2 Baatcheet November 2019 November 2019 From the Editor’s Desk astern Command covers the largest area encompassing eight states overseeing 63% Eof the land borders of our Country. The area of responsibility includes borders with five countries which is unique in itself. Due to its strategic location guarding the Eastern frontiers, the Command is at the forefront of the 'Act-East Policy'. The Command theatre stretches from the icy heights of Himalayas to the dense jungles of North East and the plains of Assam and Bengal each offering a unique challenge in terms of operations. The vagaries of nature coupled with contrasting extreme climates enhance the challenges for the Battle of Rezang La - 18 November 1962 .................. 2 soldier on ground. However, notwithstanding the Chief’s Page ............................................................... 4 inclement weather conditions, Eastern Command In Focus ..................................................................... 5 has steadfastly undertaken its duty of guarding the vast frontiers, thereby providing security to the Snippets ..................................................................6-7 Nation. Eastern Command has also done the Nation Eastern Command ................................................. 8-9 proud by spearheading the Liberation of Bangladesh, achieving a decisive victory against Pakistan in the J&K Diary ................................................................ 10 1971 War. North East Diary ....................................................... 11 At present, alongwith its conventional task, Communique ............................................................ 12 the Command is leading highly successful counter insurgency operations in the volatile regions of the Welfare and Empowerment ..................................... 13 North East. Troops and units of the Command are Training .................................................................... 14 involved in Operation Rhino in Assam, Operation Sports and Adventure .............................................. 15 Orchid in Nagaland and Operation Hifazat in Manipur. In addition to maintaining peace and Regimental Celebrations .......................................... 16 stability in the region, the Command is involved at every level for meaningful changes in the lives of the people through Operation Sadbhavana and CONTACT FOR QUERIES Operation Samaritan which have left a deep impact Publisher : Additional Directorate General, on the lives of the local population. Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) Office : B-30, South Block, New Delhi - 110011 Be it war, counter insurgency, humanitarian Tele : Off - 23018665, 33332/33249 assistance, disaster relief operations or as the last Indian Army Website : www.indianarmy.nic.in or bastion to restore law and order; the Command has www.indianarmy.gov.in acquitted itself in an exemplary manner reinforcing Facebook : www.facebook.com/indianarmy.adgpi the Nation’s faith in the Indian Army. Twitter : www.twitter.com/adgpi Editor Baatcheet Email : [email protected] ADG PI : [email protected] Brig PI : [email protected] Colonel (IO) : [email protected] Colonel (Media) : [email protected] Colonel (Social Media) : [email protected] Webmaster IA : [email protected] Contact No : 011-23018665, 33332 33249 (ASCON) Printer : Xtreme Office Aids (Pvt.) Ltd, N D-46 Ph : 011-45627583 Baatcheet November 2019 3 We request our readers to send good quality, high resolution photographs for cover page of Baatcheet. CHIEF’S PAGE General Bipin Rawat, COAS released commemorative On the occasion of 73rd Infantry Day, General Bipin postal stamps on ‘Siachen Warrior’ on 26 October 19 at Rawat laid wreath at the National War Memorial in Manekshaw Centre, Delhi to pay tributes to the great Delhi, to honour the fallen soldiers sacrifices made by Indian Army in Siachen Glacier General Bipin Rawat flagged off ‘The Ultimate Run’ in New Delhi on 19 October 19, conducted to honour Next of Kin (NOK) & disabled soldiers and felicitated battle casualties, NOK and ASHA school children. Thousands of serving and retired officers, JCOs & OR with their families whole heartedly participated in various categories of run & walk, which included 1.2 km Angel Run for NOK and battle casualties During his official visit, General Bipin Rawat, COAS called on His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Md Solih, Hon'ble President of Republic of Maldives. The President hailed Indo-Maldives enduring friendship, commended joint efforts of both Armed Forces at enhancing, revitalizing bilateral defence cooperation. The COAS handed over range of vehicles and military spares to the Chief of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). These equipment will enhance the operational & functional efficiency of MNDF 4 Baatcheet November 2019 IN FOCUS INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE COOPERATION Defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of India’s diplomatic efforts and the Indian Army has remained in the forefront of these endeavours. Three major joint exercises were conducted in the month of October 2019. EXERCISE KAZIND 2019 : INDO– Kazakhstan (14 days long joint training based on counter terrorist operations from 05 -17 October 2019) EXERCISE NOMADIC ELEPHANT : INDO-MONGOLIA (14 days long exercise based on counter terrorism operations under UN mandate : 05-18 October 2019) EXERCISE EKUVERIN 2019 : INDO-MALDIVES (Based on counter terrorism operations in semi-urban environment from 07-20 October 2019) Baatcheet November 2019 5 SNIPPETS Army Commander’s Conference was conducted at New Delhi from 14-19 October 19. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and General Bipin Rawat, COAS addressed the Army Commanders and Staff. To ensure due diligence, decisions are taken through collegiate system comprising Army Commanders and senior officers. On the eve of 73rd Infantry Day on 26 October The white water rafting expedition ‘Rudrashila’ was 19, Lieutenant General SK Saini, Southern Army flagged in by General Officer Commanding Konark Commander inaugurated a Light and Sound Show at Corps at Jodhpur on 25 October 19. The expedition National War Memorial, Pune and dedicated it to the team spread awareness amongst locals on current citizens of Pune. The inaugural show was witnessed by social issues of ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Preservation of a host of civil & military dignitaries and veterans. River Eco-Systems’. Lieutenant General Elias Martins Filho, MONUSCO 49 students and nine teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya Force Commander conferred coveted Unit Citation Sangathan visited Suratgarh Military Station on 09 to Headquarters 301 Infantry Brigade Group & October 19 under a pilot project 'SEEMA DARSHAN' INDBATT-II for maintaining peace in the region. initiated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. During the visit, students witnessed demonstration on various Army equipment and were encouraged