Ichhogil battle remembered

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 23

Fifty years on, Major Vishweshwar Singh Thapa, who participated in the brief but famous Battle of Ichhogil Bund on the night of September 22, 1965, still vividly remembers the heroic feat during which 27 Terrors (9 Madras Regiment) made the supreme sacrifice.

This was the only battle which was fought after the ceasefire on September 22 and was the shortest one which started at midnight and ended at 2.30 am, says Maj Thapa, who was the 2nd Lieutenant and led from the front.

Two Pakistani companies attempted to re-occupy the eastern bund of the Ichhogil Canal, which was captured by the 9th Battalion Madras Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel BK Satyan. The attack was repulsed and 120 Pak soldiers were killed.

“It was a do-or-die battle for both sides and we attacked the Pakistani side which had come to our side and 49 soldiers from our side were also killed”, he said. The battalion was honoured with one Vir Chakra, two Sena Medals, 12 mentioned-in-dispatches and theatre honour-Punjab.

In the wee hours of September 23, Sepoy Narayanan and Sepoy Bhaskaran of the leading platoon were found dead in a pool of blood. The whole battalion was able to vanquish the enemies simply because of gallant fighters and the supreme sacrifices of men, Maj Thapa said.