Page 16 - Seniors Today - May21 Issue

when she heard voices of men speaking
standpoint a very strategic area as it is the
foothills of the Pir Panjal range bordering
Pakistan. From 1947–48 onwards, the
Pakistani Army had been desperately
seeking to capture the area so as to choke
the Kashmir valley from the western flank.
Just like the two earlier wars, in 1971 too
they were very keen to capture this area
specially as the Indians controlled the
strategic Hajipir Pass. This time around,
they wanted to try other tactics and for that
they planned a very secretive special forces
operation to attack from the rear as well as
a frontal assault.
The Pakistan Army pushed and infiltrated
a crack force into hiding deep into the
Indian territory with the orders to hide in
the deep jungles. Apparently, the advance
force arrived on December 13, 1971 and hid
themselves in Arai top and Pillanwali. In
winters this area is covered in snow and it
is very rare that locals including the Gujjars
and Bakerwals venture out in this area.
Unfortunately for them a local village lady
,Mali (a Bakerwal) had run out of fodder
and could get that together through that
Pillanwali area. While approaching the
area, she noticed smoke coming out from
two seemingly abandoned huts. Out of
curiosity as to who could be out there at this
time of the year, she went towards the huts
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in a different language. With her hackles
up, she approached them very quietly and
cautiously so as to be undetected by anyone
who might be on the look-out. Peering
through the crack of a hut, she saw men
with weapons who seemed to be just getting
ready for action by cleaning their guns and
discussing the terrain around. Although
scared for her life, Mali had the presence
of mind to quietly withdraw and from a
safe distance quickly ran back to her house
to inform her men folk in the family. Her
brother warned her not to talk about this
with anyone as they could be in harm’s way
by these intruders.
Not convinced about the explanation by
her family she then went to the village
sarpanch hoping that he would take her
seriously and report the matter to the
authorities and the army post located not
too far away. Incredulously, the sarpanch
too thought it was far-fetched thinking
of a sick lady. Later the sarpanch was
questioned and who said that knowing
that it was war time, did not want to rake
up seemingly questionable information
and divert resources of the security
forces. Fortunately for India, this brave
lady driven by patriotism, undaunted
in being branded a trouble-maker,
approached the nearest detachment of
ITBP not far away even though the route
was treacherous being covered in thick
and fresh snow. Mali could speak only
the local language but could convey that
some very suspicious people were in
the mountains just above her dwelling.
Fortunately, the unit incharge decided
that this needed to be immediately
reported and approached the nearest
army post not too far away. The unit was
from a Sikh Battalion and fortunately the