Capturing Tololing turning point in Kargil war, says ex-Brigadier

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 12

The battle of Tololing on June 13, 1999, the first major victory for the Army in the Kargil war, played a crucial role in defeating the enemy, said Brigadier Khushal Thakur (retd) here today.

“An exercise to force Mujahideens out of Drass and Kargil sectors turned into a limited war in which the Army faced not only intruders, but also Pakistani army soldiers,” he said.

“Fighting in an inhospitable terrain with the enemy well-placed at all vantage points on the Tololing peak, the Kargil war was won at the cost of 527 brave lives; 52 of them belonged to Himachal Pradesh. Capt Vikram Batra and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, two of the four recipients of Param Vir Chakra, were both from Himachal,” he added.

“The Army lacking adequate information, artillery fire support and winter clothing placed itself in the plains. They were sitting ducks for the Pakistan forces. Yet the brave soldiers fought fiercely to re-establish their control on the mountain,” he said.

Brig Thakur (retd) remembers how difficult it was to carry ammunition under the heavy enemy artillery fire. In the battle of Tololing, 18 Grenadiers lost Lt-Col R Vishwanathan and Major Rajesh Adhikari, besides two JCOs and 21 other ranks while 2 Rajputana Rifle lost Major Vivek Gupta, two JCOs and seven other ranks.

He said that 8 Grenadiers along with 2 Rajputana Rifle launched a massive assault on the night of June 13 and succeeded in getting the control of the strategically-important peak.

“After the first victory, 18 Grenadiers moved on to capture the most important feature of the area, Tiger Hill. 18 Grenadiers was honoured with 52 gallantry awards, including a Param Vir Chakra, two Maha Vir Chakras, six Vir Chakras and 16 Sena Medals (gallantry), besides COAS Unit Citation, Kargil Theatre Honour and Tiger Hill and Tololing Battle Honour,” he added.