No. 02/2020 AN INDIAN ARMY PUBLICATION February 2020 BATTLE OF JAMALPUR 10-11 DECEMBER 1971 amalpur commemorates one of the most successful battles in the Eastern Theatre during Jthe 1971 Indo – Pak War. In the Central Sector, 95 Mountain Brigade was tasked to advance along axis Kamalpur – Bakshiganj – Jamalpur – Tangail – Dacca. IB was crossed on 03 December 1971 and after a brief artillery action at Bakshiganj, Pak garrison withdrew to Jamalpur. Own forces resumed advance shouting their War cry ‘Pakistan Zindabad, Allah on 06 December, Brahmaputra River was crossed 8 – Ho – Akbar’. Own troops repulsed each attack kms West of Jamalpur and road blocks established which came from different directions causing heavy South & South - East of Jamalpur on 7/8 December casualties to the enemy. At about 0200 hours on 1971. 11 December, Pakistani forces tried to push their Jamalpur Garrison had Pak 31 Baluch Battalion vehicles along the road, which too were destroyed by with some para - military companies. River banks RCL and Medium Machine Guns from the protective had early warning elements & field guns deployed patrol position. in the centre of the town. By 10 December 1971, 95 Finally, the Pakistani troops sent a message on Mountain Brigade concentrated around Jamalpur 11 December to Brigade HQ, offering to surrender. with 1 MARATHA LI in the South, 13 GUARDS in Brigade Commander went to the surrender venue the South East and across the river was the Brigade riding in the jeep of CO 31 Baluch (Pak Army), HQ along with a Field Regiment & a battery of which was captured by Indian troops, to accept the 120mm Mortars. It was planned to launch an attack surrender. The Pakistani side suffered heavy losses on Jamalpur on the night of 10/11 December from in the battle. Approximately 234 Pakistani soldiers the South using 1 MARATHA LI to get a foothold in were killed and another 61 captured. Large quantities the built up area & then 13 GUARDS to attack from of Pakistani weapons and ammunition were also South - East. captured by Indian troops. On 10 December, shortly before last light, the AWARDS enemy started shelling 1 MARATHA LI position. Brig HS Kler - MVC This gave an indication that they intended to break Lt Col KS Brar - Vr C through the road block. Own attack was postponed Maj Satish Nambiar - Vr C by 24 hours and troops prepared to fight a defensive Capt RSV Dafle - Vr C battle. This proved to be a favorable decision. At Hav Laxman Rane - Vr C (P) around 2350 hours on 10 December, enemy made a Hav Krishna Gurav - Vr C determined attempt to break through 1 MARATHA Nb Sub Bhiku Shirke - SM LI defences by using the Chinese human wave tactics L/Nk Govind Lanjekar - SM 2 Baatcheet February 2020 February 2020 From the Editor’s Desk ince 2017, Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed each year on 14th January as a mark of respect and recognition of the services Srendered by Field Marshal KM Cariappa OBE - the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces who retired on 14 January 1953. This day is dedicated to the numerous soldiers who wholeheartedly devoted their lives in the selfless service to the Nation and continue to play a significant role in Nation building even after superannuation. Approximately 60,000 soldiers in various ranks Battle of Jamalpur (10-11 December 1971) ............. 2 take retirement from the Indian Armed Forces every year. They enrich our society with their discipline, Chief’s Page ............................................................... 4 competence and commitment. The veterans are the In Focus ..................................................................... 5 backbone of our Army and the Regimental System, Snippets ..................................................................6-7 intrinsically linked through the years we spend together through thick and thin. It truly is a family Veterans Special ....................................................8-9 that is unique and the biggest asset of the Armed Jammu & Kashmir Diary .......................................... 10 Forces. North East Diary ....................................................... 11 Fourth Armed Forces Veterans Day at Delhi commenced with a homage ceremony at the National Communique ............................................................ 12 War Memorial, where wreaths were laid by CISC, Welfare and Empowerment ...................................... 13 serving officers and veterans from all three services. Training .................................................................... 14 Veterans Day function was held at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt later in the forenoon. The Sports and Adventure .............................................. 15 Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force alongwith 2000 Army Day 2020 Celebrations ................................... 16 veterans attended the event. CONTACT FOR QUERIES Publisher : Additional Directorate General, Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) Office : B-30, South Block, New Delhi - 110011 Tele : Off - 23018665, 33332/33249 Indian Army Website : www.indianarmy.nic.in or www.indianarmy.gov.in Facebook : www.facebook.com/indianarmy.adgpi 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] Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri accompanied by the Webmaster IA : [email protected] Chief of Defence Staff, attended a programme to mark Contact No : 011-23018665, 33332 33249 (ASCON) Armed Forces Veterans Day, at South Western Command, Printer : Xtreme Office Aids (Pvt.) Ltd, N D-46 Jaipur on 14 January 2020. Ph : 011-45627583 Baatcheet February 2020 3 We request our readers to send good quality, high resolution photographs for cover page of Baatcheet. CHIEF’S PAGE General MM Naravane, COAS visited forward posts in Siachen on 09 January 2020. The COAS reviewed operational preparedness, paid homage to martyrs at War Memorial and lauded all ranks for their perseverance & courage in challenging conditions. Complimenting them for their tenacity and high morale despite the extreme challenges posed by inclement weather, difficult terrain and super high altitude conditions, he said that the entire Nation is proud of the soldiers who are deployed in Siachen, defending the territorial integrity of India. Major General Pradeep C Nair, Inspector General Assam Rifles COAS accompanied by the Northern Army Commander, (North) presented the newly published book 'WINNING visited forward areas along Line of Control (LC) in Rajouri THE LOST BATTLE', which tells the significant yet untold on 23 January 2020. He reviewed operational preparedness stories of valour of Assam Rifles in ‘Battle of Kohima – 1944’, and extolled all ranks for effective domination of the LC. to the COAS on 21 January 2020. Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane accompanied by DGNCC interacted with NCC cadets during his visit to NCC Republic Day Parade Camp in Delhi Cantonment, on 16 January 2020. The COAS appreciated the contribution of NCC in grooming the youth for Nation building & also lauded the role of NCC in HADR activities. 4 Baatcheet February 2020 IN FOCUS ieutenant General SK Saini assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of Army Staff on 25 January 2020. He is an alumnus of Sainik School LKapurthala & NDA, and was commissioned into 7 JAT in June 1981. He has commanded his Battalion, a Mountain Brigade, a Counter Insurgency Force in J & K, a Corps in the Western Theatre and the Southern Army. His staff experience includes tenanting the appointments of Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade, GSO1 (Operations) of an Infantry Division and Director Military Operations at the Army HQ. He has also been BGS of a Corps deployed in J&K, DDG (Strategy) in the Perspective Planning Directorate and DDG KRA Monitoring Cell, COAS Secretariat. Besides, he has been a weapons instructor in the National Security Guards Training Centre, Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College, New Delhi and Commandant of the Indian Military Academy. The General Officer is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley in UK and the National Defence College, Bangladesh, where he authored the best research paper. The General Officer has been bestowed a number of awards, both for gallantry and distinguished service. He is also the Colonel of the JAT Regiment. ieutenant General CP Mohanty assumed command of Southern Army on 30 January 2020. An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military LCollege, Dehradun and National Defence Academy; he is a June 1982 batch Infantry Officer from the Rajput Regiment and is presently the Colonel of the Regiment. During his distinguished military career, General Mohanty has had vast operational, logistics and administrative experience in varied command and staff appointments. He commanded his Battalion in J & K and North East, a Mountain Brigade along the Indo China border and a Mountain Division in Counter Insurgency Operations in North East. Later he commanded a strategically important Corps in the Eastern Theatre and also Uttar Bharat Area. The General Officer has vast overseas experience of commanding a multi-national Brigade in the Republic of Congo besides being Military Advisor to the Government of Seychelles. He has held important staff appointments in an Armoured Brigade and MS Branch besides being the Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic