Army marks Asal Uttar Day

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11

The Army observed Asal Uttar Day to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Battle of Asal Uttar during 1965 War at Ferozepur. Homage was paid to martyrs by district officials and the Army at the Asal Uttar War Memorial.

It was in this battle that CQMH Abdul Hamid of the 4 Grenadiers single-handedly destroyed a number of Pakistani Patton tanks using his jeep-mounted recoilless gun. He made the supreme sacrifice during this action and was decorated with the Param Vir Chakra.

On September 10, 1965, the 4 Grenadiers not only thwarted the offensive of Pakistan’s armoured division, but also laid an ambush which killed the Pakistani division commander and artillery brigade commander.

This battle was so crucial for the nation that the then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, visited Bhikhiwind to see what was called the graveyard of Patton tanks.