Martyrs of 1965 war remembered

Our Correspondent

Poonch, September 7

The Chief of Staff, Central Command, Lt General GS Shergill, paid tributes to the martyrs during the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war in which Indian soldiers captured the prominent Raja-Rani post from Pakistani army connecting Uri-Haji Pir to Poonch.

Lt Gen Shergill laid a wreath at the Naman Sthal and remembered the war heroes.

After paying tributes to the martyrs, he said on the intervening night of September 5 and 6, 1965, the 93rd Brigade of 25 Division was to capture important Pakistani positions (Chaand Tekri) dominating the area. 2 Sikh led by Lt Col NN Khanna were brought in for the task.

“Despite landmine areas ahead of the post where over 39 jawans lost their lives and over 100 jawans suffered injuries, Lt Col Khanna went forward to take personal command of the attack and motivated his men to keep moving forward and upwards. He was, however, hit by a full burst of an enemy MMG and had to be evacuated, dying on the way to the advanced dressing station, but the soldiers managed to capture the Pakistani post on the same day,” Lt Gen Shergill said.

He was awarded the Vir Chakra. Maj Jagdish Singh, commanding the affiliated Patiala Mountain Battery, was wounded, but remained on the battlefield directing fire. He was also awarded a Vir Chakra.

Forty brave men of 2 Sikh were killed and 104 wounded. Meanwhile, moving silently on September 6, 1965, at 7 am, 3 Dogra had taken Rani Picket’s defenders (a company of PoK Rangers) by surprise and captured the post after a short fight.

With the capture of the Raja-Rani post, the Uri area of the Valley was connected to Poonch via Haji Pir and the Army vehicles could reach Poonch via this route, he added.

The Poonch Brigade celebrates Raja Day every year on September 6 as their battle honour and remembers the undying spirit of Col Khanna.

He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his leadership and courage.