No. 12/2019 AN INDIAN ARMY PUBLICATION December 2019 INDO-PAK WAR : 1971 LIBERATION OF BANGLADESH BATTLE OF HILLI 22 NOV – 11 DEC 1971 he Battle of Hilli, one of the most decisive Brigade. The battle took place in two phases. In first battles of 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War), phase, Morapara was captured and in phase-II Hilli Twill go down in the annals of the history was captured. After the end of the phase I, 8 GUARDS of the Indian Army as one of the most ferocious held Morapara, 22 MARATHA LI held Noapara and battles ever fought by a gallant band of soldiers from 5 GARHWAL RIFLES held Basudeopur. However, highly motivated units. The operations comprised heavy casualities were suffered by the Division in two battles; the first Battle of Hilli was fought from Hilli which forced the higher Headquarter to modify 22-24 November, and the second from 10-11 plans for attacks on fortified positions. With the December 1971, although the final surrender modified plans, 20 Mountain Division captured by Pak Forces in the area of Hilli took place on Durra, Bisapara, Dangapara and Hilli. The officers 18 December 1971. The main objective was to exhibiting exemplary leadership, led attacks in the capture Bogra, thereby cutting off Pakistani forces in face of murderous fire and set personal examples of the North from the rest of East Pakistan. The best unstinting courage and commitment. Young leaders way of reaching Bogra was through Hilli. at all levels displayed exceptional levels of leadership. It speaks volumes of the tenacity and fortitude of the INDIAN FORCES Indian Army soldiers that despite heavy odds and 20 Mountain Division was led by Major General fighting a protracted battle for many days emerged Lachhman Singh, comprising of 66 Mountain victorious at Hilli. Brigade, 165 Mountain Brigade, 202 Mountain AWARDS Brigade, 340 Mountain Brigade, 3 Armoured Brigade, 471 Engineer Brigade and two Artillery Brigades Lance Naik Albert Ekka augmented by 33 Corps Artillery. The ground troops Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous) were aided by aerial support provided by the Indian Air Force which had acquired air superiority. Lieutenant Colonel Samsher Singh Mahavir Chakra PAKISTAN FORCES Second Lieutenant SS Samra 205 Infantry Brigade of 16 Division of Pakistan Army Mahavir Chakra (Posthumous) led by Brigadier Tajammul Hussain Malik. Lance Naik Ram Ugrah Pandey MAJOR EVENTS OF THE BATTLE Mahavir Chakra (Posthumous) The initial plan was to capture Hilli with 202 Mountain The Battle was unique in the way that it started before the official commencement of the India Pakistan war on 03 December 1971 and continued even after the formal surrender by Pakistan Army 2 Baatcheet December 2019 December 2019 From the Editor’s Desk he Indo Pak War of 1971 is a landmark event in the rich history of the Indian Armed TForces as this war carved out an independent and sovereign nation of Bangladesh by a finely orchestrated campaign spearheaded by Eastern Command. The war was the fall out of the oppressive political and economic policies of West Pakistan towards East Pakistan, which caused unimaginable human sufferings leading to the exodus of more than 10 million refugees into India. The Military option was exercised only when all Battle of Hilli (22 Nov-11 Dec 1971) .......................... 2 political and diplomatic efforts by India to resolve the issue failed. An all out war was triggered by Chief’s Page ............................................................... 4 unprovoked air strikes by Pakistan on Indian Air In Focus ..................................................................... 5 Bases on 03 December 1971. The synergized efforts of the Indian Armed Forces, orchestrated the Snippets ..................................................................6-7 collapse of Pakistan Army in a matter of 14 days. The Indo-Pak War : 1971 ............................................. 8-9 multi-pronged thrusts by the formations of Eastern J&K Diary ................................................................ 10 Command ably supported by Indian Air Force and an effective sea blockade by Indian Navy, forced North East Diary ....................................................... 11 Pakistan Army to surrender unconditionally on 16 Communique ............................................................ 12 December 1971. Welfare and Empowerment ..................................... 13 Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, GOC-in-C East Training .................................................................... 14 Pakistan Army signed the Instrument of Surrender Sports and Adventure .............................................. 15 on 16 December 1971 with Lieutenant General JS Arora, GOC-in-C Eastern Command at the Regimental Celebrations .......................................... 16 Dhaka Race Course, which led to more than 93,000 Pakistani soldiers laying down their arms and surrender. Never before in the history of warfare, CONTACT FOR QUERIES Publisher : Additional Directorate General, such large number of soldiers have surrendered, as Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) the Pakistanis did. 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] Webmaster IA : [email protected] Contact No : 011-23018665, 33332 33249 (ASCON) Printer : Xtreme Office Aids (Pvt.) Ltd, N D-46 Ph : 011-45627583 Baatcheet December 2019 3 We request our readers to send good quality, high resolution photographs for cover page of Baatcheet. CHIEF’S PAGE Chief of General Staff, Vietnam People’s Army & Deputy General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff presided over Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General 35th Infantry Commanders’ Conference conducted at Phan Van Giang called upon and interacted with General the Infantry School, Mhow from 26-28 November 2019. Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff on 25 November 19 to Conference is a biennial event aimed at taking a holistic review discuss issues of mutual & strategic concern of operational, training and management aspects of the Infantry Lieutenant General Walter R Koipaton, Commander, Kenyan Chief of the Army Staff delivered the Key Note Address at Army interacted with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army DEFCOM INDIA 2019 seminar held at Manekshaw Centre, Staff at South Block on 20 November 19 and discussed issues New Delhi on 26 November 2019 and discussed the security of mutual concern challenges confronting the Nation and stressed on the need for jointness General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff visited Chief of the Army Staff visited Chandimandir on 22 November Headquarters Southern Command on 23 November 2019 and 2019 and urged all ranks to keep themselves abreast with commended all ranks for their professionalism; exhorting latest trends in information technology, emerging threats and them to keep working with zeal and enthusiasm counter measures 4 Baatcheet December 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 November 2019. Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN 2019 : Indo - Japan (Based on counter terrorism operations in jungle & urban scenario :19 October– 02 November 2019 at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte) Exercise SHAKTI 2019 : Indo– French (Joint exercise conducted from 01-13 November 2019 at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan) Exercise DUSTLIK 2019: Indo-Uzbekistan (Joint exercise on counter terrorism operations under UN mandate : 04-13 November 2019 at Chirchiq Training Area near Tashkent, Uzbekistan) Baatcheet December 2019 5 SNIPPETS Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri inaugurated the 200m Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri paid respect to the Sisseri bridge connecting Siang and Dibang Valley of fallen soldiers and inaugurated Tawang Maitree Diwas on Arunachal Pradesh on 15 November 2019. He congratulated 14 November 2019 in the presence of Shri Pema Khandu, the BRO and Project Brahmank for successfully completing Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and the Eastern Army the bridge in extremely challenging terrain and weather Commander, to mark the spirit of friendship and bonhomie conditions. between the citizens of Tawang and the Indian Army. Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ms Leila National conference on ‘Recent Advancement in Infection Zerrougui visited the Indian Army contingents at Kitchanga, Control & Vaccine Safety’ was organised by Army college Nyanzale & Pinga in North Kivu Province of the Democratic of Nursing, Jalandhar and attended by delegates from Republic of Congo and lauded their efforts in maintaining reputed Nursing Institutions & Hospitals from Punjab, peace. Jammu, Haryana & Himachal Pradesh. General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps was the Chief Guest and Mrs Jacinta G from AIIMS New Delhi was the Guest of Honour. 20 enthusiastic cadets of Sainik School Nagrota along with two teachers visited Agra on educational tour from 05-08 November 2019. The cadets had the Gandiv Artillery Brigade through personal contact program first