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were killed and wounded, and six enemy
Prisoners of War were apprehended. A
large quantity of arms, ammunition and
equipment was captured which included
Chinese made automatic weapons and
mines.
One of these Pakistani Chaffee tanks
captured in running condition by14 Punjab
occupies a place of pride in the Punjab
Regimental Centre at Ramgarh Cantonment,
Jharkhand today.
The monument commemorating the martyrs, at the road
junction leading to Garibpur
Honours and Awards
Importance of the Battle of Garibpur The Battle of Garibpur brought a total of
The Battle of Garibpur had many national 40 well-deserved gallantry awards to the
and international repercussions and led battalion, its affiliated troops and the IAF.
to interesting results on both sides. Gen While Lt Col RK Singh was awarded the
Yahya Khan declared a National Emergency MVC, the unit earned another MVC (Sub
in Pakistan and complained to the UN Malkiat Singh) posthumously, two VrCs
Secretary General, U Thant, about India (Capt GS Gill and Hav Lekh Raj) and two
violating the UN Charter. Sena Medals (Capt Balbir Singh and L Nk
The unique battle of one Battalion Group Sewa Singh). The attached troops won
defeating a Brigade attack supported by one MVC (Maj DS Narang) posthumously,
armour and PAF will go down in the annals two VrCs (Nb Risaldar RP Singh, 45 Cav
of warfare as a classic example. On the and Capt RP Chaturvedi) and one Sena
tactical level, the battle forced the Pakistanis Medal (Maj Kailash Nath). The three IAF
to vacate Chaugacha without a fight. Later Gnat pilots (Flt Lts RA Massey and MA
when the war was fully joined in early Ganapathy, and Fg Offr D Lazarus) who shot
December, this resulted in own 9 Infantry down the Sabre jets were awarded a VrC
Division to close up almost halfway upto each.
Jessore, which was its initial objective.
Own losses including the affiliated units Ordering of Commission
were 28 killed and 42 wounded, while four After the War, Pakistan ordered a
PT-76 tanks were destroyed. During the tank Commission under Chief Justice Hamoodur
battle, Maj NS Narang got killed while Capt Rahman on the defeat of the Pakistani Army
RP Chaturvedi was seriously injured while during the 1971 Confict. An extract of the
directing artillery shoots on the enemy. report mentioned that Brig Mohammad
Thirteen Chaffee tanks were neutralised Hayat, former Commander 107 Brigade, 9
which included three captured in running Infantry Division, East Pakistan be tried for
condition. Practically the whole of the by court martial for not formulating a sound
enemy’s squadron was annihilated. Three plan for the defence of the Jessore fortress
enemy aircraft were lost in the air battle and failing to properly plan and command
while 300 soldiers, including three officers the brigade counter-attack at Garibpur.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 27
