Draft:The Battle Of Gitian(Hajipir)

The Battle Of Gitian(Hajipir)

The Battle Of Gitian(Hajipir)
Part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Date 20–21 September 1965 (1 day) Location Kahuta, Pakistan-administrated Kashmir 33°54′38″N 74°04′01″E Result Indian Victory Territorial changes Pakistan Occupied Kashmir
Belligerents
India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Brigadier Zorawar Chand Bakshi Lt Col SS Khokhar Maj BK Mehta	Unknown
Units involved
6 Dogra 19 Punjab 164 Field Regiment
Strength
400+	250+
Casualties and losses
Killed : 24( 2 Officers , 1 JCO & 21 Other ranks) Wounded : 74 ( 4 Officers , 3 JCO & 67 Other ranks)	Killed : 90 ( dead bodies accounted for) Wounded : 100 (approx)

The Battle of Gitian Hajipir [1] was a significant engagement fought by 6 DOGRA during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It took place on the 20 September and 21 September 1965, as a subsequent of the operations post capture of the strategic Hajipir Pass in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian Army . .The  gallantry displayed  by the brave men in this epic battle was such that the Chief of The Army Staff, as a mark of his appreciation, approved 21 Sep to be celebrated as GITIAN DAY by this Battalion each year as “BATTLE HONOR DAY”, being the youngest battalion post-independence to be awarded a battle honor.

Background

In April 1965, there were a number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and in May, Pakistani forces occupied three hill features overlooking the Srinagar – Leh Highway and commenced accurate artillery fire on the highway.

In early August 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar with the aim of clandestinely infiltrating a large number of guerrillas into Kashmir to destabilise the region through subversive activities including inciting the local population to rebellion and guerrilla attacks to destroy infrastructure, followed by overthrowing the administration and installing a puppet government. However, Operation Gibraltar failed because the local population did not revolt as expected and also on finding out Pakistan's plans, India launched a counter operation against the infiltrators who were identified, engaged and liquidated.

In response to Pakistan's repeated infiltrations and attempts to destabilise Kashmir, the then Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri made a statement "India cannot go on pushing the Pakistanis off its territory. If infiltration continues, we will have to carry the fight to the other side."

Actions Post-Capture of Hajipir Pass

6th Battalion The Dogra regiment Captures The Gitian Feature.

India's capture of the entire Haji Pir bulge and Haji Pir pass was a major strategic victory as it neutralised the logistical set up and plugged the ingress routes of infiltrators as well as brought the Poonch - Uri road under Indian control, thus reducing the road distance between these 2 towns from 282 km to 56 km. It was a major achievement for the units involved, who had conducted assaults in extremely difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions against well entrenched Pakistani defences to capture the objectives given. Pakistan was determined to recapture the Hajipir Pass and fortified the Gitian feature, located south of the Pass, as a stronghold. The 6 DOGRA relieved 1 PARA (SF) and was assigned the task of eliminating the enemy stronghold at the Gitian feature.

Prelude : Battle Of The Dogra Hill (Pt 7720)

After clearing the Gulmarg sector, the 6 Dogra commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sarmukh Singh Khokhar reverted to its old formation, the 68 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Z C Bakshi, VrC).  By now, 1 Para under 68 Brigade had captured the Haji Pir Pass and the brigade was planning to move south to Kahuta for a link-up with the 3 Dogra coming up north.  The unit left Tangmarg on 1^st September, and after a brief halt at Baramula to meet Lieutenant General M S Pathania, the Colonel of the Regiment, it reached Buniyar by   the  afternoon. The  next  day, it  concentrated  at a bridge on the Uri nullah, about 3,000 metres south-east of Uri.  The  same night, regardless  of heavy rain, the men  climbed up to the Haji Pir Pass and reached  it  by 10 a.m on the 3^rd.  The battalion relieved 1 Para on the 4^th.  It was here that Captain J P Makkar joined the battalion.  He was greeted with heavy artillery fire from Point 8786, about 2200 metres south-west of the pass.  The 1 Para had already captured the Haji Pir Pass  as mentioned  earlier.   On 30^th August, it captured a feature named Ring Contour, south of the pass, and two days later it was in position a few hundred metres further south. It was here that the 6 Dogra took over the positions from the 1 Para.  The road from the Haji Pir Pass to Kahuta in the south follows a nullah which joins the Betar nullah at Kahuta. This road is dominated on the west by Point 8786 which is about 2200 metres south-west of the pass; Point 8777, another 2000 metres  south; and Gitian, further 1100 metres south of Point 8777.  On the east, it is dominated by Point 7720 which is about 4000 metres south-east of the pass.  Clearing the Haji Pir Pas-Kahuta road meant capturing Points 8786, 8777 and Gitian west of the road, and clearing Point 7720 on the east.  The brigade planned to send  1 Para along the western track joining the heights at Points 8786, 8777 and Gitian,  and the 6 Dogra  to Point 7720 and from thence to Kahuta from the east.  The 1 Para captured Point 8786 by the 8th evening.  The same night  6 Dogra was ordered to capture Point 7720.  The Dogra objective was defended by one company supported by Browning and light machine-guns and rocket launchers, with artillery support available on call.  Col Khokhar detailed Major B K Mehta,  his second  in   command, to  lead  a two-company  silent  attack with A Company under Major HS Sachdev and C Coy under Captain J P Makkar.  Maj HS Sachdev was an experienced soldier who had been with the battalion since its raising. His company was to assault the objective.  Though J P Makkar had just joined the battalion, he had gained considerable battle experience fighting the Chinese in the Walong sector in 1962 with 4  Dogra. His company was to be in reserve. Accompanied by the mortars, the two companies left the battalion area at 2.30 a.m and formed near the objective at 4 a.m. of the 9^th.  It was then that the Pakistanis opened up with all their weapons. Major HS Sachdev led the attack even though wounded. The Pakistani Commander, according to the war diary, was seen running in his sleeping pyjamas.   By 7.30 a.m., Point 7720 was captured by the two companies.  The unit suffered the following casualties in this attack   killed – three ORs, and wounded – ten including Major HS Sachdev.  Sepoy Jarnail  Singh  displayed utmost courage when he charged a machine-gun post.  He was awarded the Sena Medal, posthumously.   Major HS Sachdev also earned his Sena Medal in this sharp action. The two companies captured the following weapons :-

                    (i)       Browning machine-gun      –                  01

                    (ii)       Rocket Launcher               –                   01        

                    (iii)      Personal Weapons            –                   04

                    (iv)      Ammunition                       -                   Large quantities

This was the first time the 6 DOGRA had drawn blood in a regular battle since ts raising in October 1964.  

The Battle

The planning to capture the Gitian feature was completed by the 20^th. The 6^th was to attack it from the east in Phase I, followed by the 19 Punjab in Phase 2.  Gitian consists of three features which were named as the Knoll, Tree Hill and Hut Hill. The two companies to lead the attack were B Company (Major D S Lalli) on the left and C Company (Major J P Makkar) on the right with a Company (Captain G S Boparai) in reserve.  The attack was to go in at 2.30 a.m. on the 21^st.  When the two assault companies were within about 200 metres of their objectives, the men climbing the steep hill were met with heavy fire.  “The Pakistanis”, records the war diary, “put up a very stiff and stubborn resistance from their strongly entrenched bunkers. Hand-to-hand fighting continued for hours together. The enemy strength, though initially estimated to be one company strong, turned out to be well over two companies.”   It was whilst trying to climb up the objective with his machine-gun that the platoon Havildar Kanshi Ram won his Vir Chakra posthumously.  He had effectively silenced some Pakistani guns by his accurate fire.  During the re-organisation on his objective, Maj Darshan Singh Lalli was killed after having taken a heavy toll of his adversaries in the bunkers.  2^nd Lieutenant Z S Choudhary and Subedar Hans Raj repulsed three determined counter-attacks. Maj Lalli was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously and Hans Raj won the Sena Medal.  Maj J P Makkar, by now promoted Major, groped his way up the Hut Hill.  Maj J P took the route from the eastern flank of the Hut Hill, thereby saving his company from fire of the listening posts which were  wide  awake.  As he neared his objective, Subedar Anant Ram was killed by machine-gun fire.  The Pakistanis were then firing wildly in all directions.  Captain T R  Kakkar, who commanded one of the platoons, was wounded.  Havildar Naubat Ram was also wounded here, but carried on in the assault which was soon ordered by the company commander.  Sepoy Mast Ram was killed as he climbed up the last ascent to the Hut Hill.  Daylight was breaking just then and the final assault with the shouts of “Jwala Mai ki Jai” was witnessed by Lt Col Khokhar and Maj Mehta from the forward posts of the 19 Punjab in the south-east.   Captain Naniwadekar, the forward observation officer, also charged with the assaulting troops.  The Pakistanis counter-attacked at 7 a.m. Naubat Ram, though wounded re-organised his platoon and successfully met the Pakistani attack by making free use of grenades.  A little later, Capt Naniwadekar was killed.  At 9 a.m, two platoons of the 19 Punjab under Major Ranbir Singh, which were meant to reinforce Maj Lalli’s B Company, came into Maj J P’s area.  As Ranbir got ready to move to Tree Hill, he was killed by machine-gun fire.  An hour later, Maj Mehta arrived on the objective followed by Lt Col Khokhar.  Young Satpal Sandhu who had brought up ammunition was also wounded. Both B and C Company had successfully captured their respective objectives and repelled a Pakistani counter-attack, albeit at high cost.  Maj Lalli, Subedar Anant Singh and 22 brave Dogras were killed, four officers, three JCOs and 66 ORs wounded.  But Gitian was captured.  The Pakistanis launched four counter-attacks in quick succession but they were repulsed. Of the two artillery officers with the assaulting companies, Captain M G Naniwadekar was killed and Captain M D Naidu (with Maj Lalli) was seriously wounded.  The Pakistanis left behind  90 dead and carried at least 100 wounded.  The casualties of the 6^th were : killed – one officer (Major D S Lalli), one JCO (Nb/Sub Anant Singh) and 22 ORs; wounded – four officers (Captains G S Boparai, T R Kakkar, 2^nd Lieutenants S S Gill and Satpal Singh Sandhu), three JCOs (Subedar Bulhuam, Naib Subedars Roshan Singh and Mehar Singh) and 60 ORs; prisoners of           war – two ORs It will be noted that out of the eight officer who took part in the Gitian battle, six were casualties two killed and four wounded. No 3930517 Hav Kanshi Ram and No 3940154 L/Hav Naubat Ram merit a special mention for their supreme courage and devotion to duty. No 3930517 Hav Kanshi Ram though fatally wounded took his MMG to a suitable firing position under the heavy enemy fire and silenced the enemy MMG which was inflicting heavy casualties to own tps.

Awards & Honours

The unit won the following awards :-

Sno.
1	Lance Havildar Naubat Ram	Maha Vir Chakra
2	Maj Darshan Singh Lalli (posthumous)	Vir Chakra
3	Havildar Kanshi Ram (posthumous)	Vir Chakra
4	Major HS Sachdev	Sena Medal
5	Subedar Hans Raj	Sena Medal
6	Sepoy Jarnail Singh(posthumous)	Sena Medal
7	Major B K Mehta	Mention-in-Despatches
8	Major K B Thapa	Mention-in-Despatches
9	Sepoy Ronki Ram	Mention-in-Despatches
10	Subedar Major Ram Singh	COAS Commendation Card

Aftermath

India's capture of the entire Haji Pir bulge and Haji Pir pass was a major strategic victory as it neutralised the logistical set up and plugged the ingress routes of infiltrators as well as brought the Poonch - Uri road under Indian control, thus reducing the road distance between these 2 towns from 282 km to 56 km. It was a major achievement for the units involved, who had conducted assaults in extremely difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions against well entrenched Pakistani defences to capture the objectives given. The  gallantry displayed  by  our brave men in this epic battle was such that the Chief of The Army Staff, as a mark of his appreciation, approved 21 Sep to be celebrated as GITIAN DAY by this Battalion each year as our “BATTLE HONOUR DAY”. The Battalion continued to hold GITIAN feature till 23 Feb 1966 when implementation of TASHKENT Agreement brought an end to OP SANGAM. The Battalion abandoned GITIAN the following morning and reached SAROL, near RAJAURI, the same evening.  A number of moves were carried out in the ensuing years due to training and administrative reasons where stay at any one place did not exceed 3 to 4 months. Training moves were frequent and on self  contained basis over heights  ranging from 9000 feet to 15000 feet.

Convey of heartiest congratulations by Brig ZC Bakshi & Maj Gen SS Kalan ,MC post capture of Gitian.

6 Dogra was awarded the Battle Honour Hajipir and Theatre Honour Jammu and Kashmir (1965).

In the subsequent Tashkent agreement, India handed back the hard-won Haji Pir bulge to Pakistan. The handing back of Haji Pir bulge has been criticised by Indian strategic planners because the majority of infiltrations by militants from Pakistan into Jammu & Kashmir continues to happen from this area.