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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Col J P Singh May 1948. Capt Kaushal, finding A Leaf from History numerically hopelessly outnum- Excelsior mportance of Ladakh does Established 1965 bered set ablaze the centuries old not start with or end at grant- wooden Bridge and gained valu- Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Iing an administrative Divi- able time. On May 28th, Air sional or Union Territory status. Tribute to those who saved Ladakh Commodore Mehar Singh led To understand its importance for Agency Headquarters, arrested fired with the ideals of honour of dolier of 50 rounds of ammuni- as they had none of the special- four Dakotas to land a Company India, a historical perspective of 2/4 GR at Leh with its support China and Russia actively becomes unavoidable. During Brig Ghansar Singh, the Gover- their country, devotion of duty tion and one extra rifle and two ized snow clothing and acces- nor on the night of 31 October and honour of their Battalion, month rations hoping that after sories. In Brig Sen's words, "it weapons, adequate ammunition Maharaja Pratap Singh's rule, and logistical wherewithal. This British somehow got an opportu- 1947 and massacred all non Mus- volunteer for missions unmind- sometime air supplies to Leh will called for unbound courage, lim inhabitants of the Agency. ful of the hazardous odds. 2 resume. On 16 February 1948, determination and stamina to do was unprecedented military join anti terrorism club nity to establish an Agency in Thus Gilgit-Baltistan was put Dogra had 80 soldiers from Lahul 'Leh Det' left for Sonamarg on so". They rested at Kargil till 2 advantage to Leh Det's three Gilgit in 1889. A British Political into Pakistani lap even without a - Spiti valleys who were best suit- unit transport. On 17th February, March, arranged porters / ponies month long singular stand in et another victory for India in internation- Agent was stationed at Gilgit bullet fired. Maj Gen K S Thi- ed to take up the journey. Maj straddled their loads on local and 200 Rifles from State Forces Ladakh. al diplomacy and equally another jolt to who reported to the British Res- mayya, then GOC of Srinagar Prithvi Chand and his cousin ponies, they set out from Baltal Armory with food provisions and Meanwhile Sub Bhim Chand, ident in Srinagar. Initial purpose the abode of terrorism, Pakistan in fur- Division, was quick to grasp that Capt Kaushal Chand, both from for Leh. As the pony owners set out for Leh, covering 249 kms with 80 armed local militia men Y of the Agency was to keep watch the strategic advantage accruing a village under Baralacha Pass came to know of going to Leh, to a rousing welcome by locals checkmated and inflicted heavy ther tasting the unaffordable international isola- on the frontiers and to restrain to Pakistan would enable to oper- (16,700 ft) on the boundary of they vanished. Due to heavy by sundown on 8th March 1948. casualties on enemy intruders, tion, China and Russia have agreed in principle local Wazarats of Hunza and ate unchallenged along Gilgit- Lahul and Ladakh districts snow at Zojila, Maj Prithvi Knowing that their mission was estimated 900, in Shyok and Nagar from dealing with Rus- for a closer coordination to eradicate, what was Skardu-Nubra Valley axes to iso- picked up the gauntlet. 40 of that Chand was asked to abandon all too big for their strength, they Nubra valleys in two nail biting sians directly. Soon Hunza and late and consolidate their control integrated 25 soldiers of the state actions. He was awarded much said, “Breeding grounds of terrorism.” The Nagar were brought under the over entire Ladakh province with force left behind by Maj Thapa. merited Vir Chakra with Bar. Maj question is that in the light of specific and clear direct purview of the Agency. Gilgit providing them a firm On May 28th, Air Commodore They also persuaded 200 able Prithvi Chand and Capt Kaushal cut gauntlet having been thrown by the comity The J&K State Forces were sta- base. Gen Thimayya had no bodied Ladakhis to undergo Chand were awarded MVC. Dur- of nations against terrorism and now China not tioned in a garrison at Gilgit option at this moment but to Mehar Singh led four Dakotas training in the use of rifles. By ing the time when Capt Kaushal which were used by the Agency occupy Skardu to prevent further mid April, they created what is Singh was engaged in lighting the affording to be singled out, whether Pakistan to keep order. Later other ingress. He ordered Maj Sher to land a Company of 2/4 GR at today 'Ladakh and Nubra Scouts'. Bridge afire, Nk Bir Singh kept can still afford to manufacture, pamper, sustain Wazarats to the West of Gilgit Jung Thapa posted at Leh to Maj Prithvi Chand simultaneous- the enemy at bay, got fatally such as Punial, Yasin, Ghizar, and promote terrorism at such an unaffordable move to Skardu to thwart enemy ly involved civilians to clear an wounded and was awarded Vir Ishkoman and Chitral were also entry into Nubra Valley and the Leh with its support weapons, open and broad ground patch Chakra posthumous. The cost? The answer can better be from the pow- brought under Gilgit Agency. Leh region. Maj Sher Jung, with between Leh town and Indus Riv- moment of honour also belonged ers that be enjoying de-jure status though in Though under the suzerainty of 75 soldiers of his company of 6 er. By end April, Maj Prithvi to Sep Togbe, the first Leh Mili- Maharaja, the area was directly adequate ammunition and disguise in Pakistan as the present “elected” Jammu Kashmir Infantry started Chand was able to report to Gen tia volunteer who showed bound- administered by the Agency. In from Leh on 23 November 1947. Thimayya of readiness of an Air less courage in the Shyok valley dispensation is caught between two stools . the 'Great Game Diplomacy' for They reached Skardu on 3 logistical wherewithal. This was Strip. Little did he know than that encounters. He too was awarded At the conclusion of the strategic meeting Central Asia, the Gilgit-Baltistan December covering a distance of Gen Thimayya himself will land Vir Chakra. Gen Thimayya, the region had a strategic mystique. between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, India 137 kms in 11 days. They held on unprecedented military advan- there in the very first sortie of a GOC paid this tribute, "the Leh In 1913, British created and sta- to Skardu till the 'last but one man Dakota piloted by Air Com- Det, One Force Too Many" and and China in East Chinese city of Wuzhen on tioned a paramilitary force, the and last round' to August 1948, modore Mehar Singh on 24 May placed on record that "their deeds February 27, a firm commitment sprouted in Gilgit Scouts, of 600 locals, com- which is another war epic story, tage to Leh Det's three month 1948 and create an enviable land- and acts of gallantry against very manded by a British army officer superior enemy in the Ladakh respect of eradicating terror. India succeeded written earlier and for another mark in the world of Aviation who was accountable to the time later long singular stand in Ladakh. History. valley will go down in the annals in putting out its case more explicitly in respect British Army in Delhi. But in the Fully cognisant of Pak Pakistan remained obsessed of the Indian Army as one of the of how it had been reeling under the scourge of run up to India's independence, manoeuvers, Gen Cariappa and ilk, volunteered for the adventure provisions and the extra rifle and with the capture of Skardu. Maj greatest feat'. Today when we are jurisdiction of Gilgit Scouts feeling cold and shivering in terrorism and where from it was planted in and Gen Thimayya were of the unan- into unchartered territory. Two somehow reach Kargil where Thapa rebuffed all their attempts under Maj William Brown was imous opinion that fall of Leh nursing orderlies, three wireless they will be replenished by the to invade Skardu. So in May Jammu and around, let us stretch exported to India, the severity of which was transferred to Maharaja of J&K will be a big strategic blow to operators and Sub Bhim Chand, stocks of the state forces. With 1948, enemy diverted a sizeable our imaginations to climatic con- seen by the entire world on February 14. It also in June 1947. That story begins India. Brig L P Sen, Commander maternal uncle of officer cousins, experience of snow at Lahul -Spi- force to capture Kargil-Zojila ditions in Ladakh. But for the to justify strategic importance of 161 Inf Bde was directed to made up a sub unit called 'Leh ti, Maj Prithvi Chand decided to Ridge line to block all avenues of madness of Leh Det, Ladakh conveyed under what circumstances and pur- Ladakh. restore the military vacuum at Det'. Crossing two Himalayan cross Zojila at mid night hours by reinforcements to Leh. Aware of would have been Pak Occupied poses were the strikes against the terror When Pak raiders entered Leh after Maj Thapa's move. Brig Passes above 11,000 ft, at sub using drum beat vibrations of presence of enemy in Kargil, Maj Ladakh. Hence let us stand up in camps in Pakistan conducted on February 26 J&K in October 1947 to capture Sen ordered 2 Dogra, command- zero temperatures, frequented by empty utensils to trigger ava- Prithvi Chand dispatched Capt salute to the Leh Det's spirit of Kashmir militarily, on Pak ed by Lt Col GG Bewoor, (later snow blizzards reached Leh on lanches.