Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of India's Greatest Military Victory

Army advances into East Pakistan
Many towns and Pakistani Army strongholds fall to Army operations

Dec 04, Eastern Sector: The Indian army in the Eastern sector today had launched an all-out offensive that saw it making inroads into East pakistan capturing many towns and Pakistani Army strongholds. Severe casualities were inflicted on the Pakistani army and many troops were taken prisoners

Darsana and Kotchandpur taken:

Operating from the western side of East Pakistan Lt Gen T N Raina's II Corps had captured the major towns of Darsana and Kotchandpur. Brig A H E Michigans 41 Mtn Brigade had was tasked with capturing Darsana and after heavy fighting, the the 5/1 Gorkha Rifles Bn under Lt Col C Venugopal not only captured Darsana but also the nieghbouring town of Uthali.

Meanwhile 62 Mtn Brigade under Brig Jaswant Singh occupied the stronghold of Kotchandpur after heavy fighting. The Indian troops advancing into the town were given a rousing welcome by the Bengali population as Liberators from the oppression of troops from West Pakistan.

Indian Troops after occupying the town of Darsana. The local commander of the Indian troops, Brig A H E Michigan can be seen in the center standing with many of his battalion commanders.

Lance Naik Albert Ekka

While assaulting enemy bunkers, he personnaly took one of the bunkers, capturing an LMG and bayonetting two fo the Pakistani troops. Even though he was wounded,  in another operation he took out a well sited Medium Machine gun on the second floor of a building. This he accomplished after throwinga   grenade, then climbing the wall and bayonetting the crew operating the MMG. Sadly Lance Naik Ekka succumbed to his wounds.

Large haul of Pak POWs:

301 Brigade under Brig H S Sodhi took the town of Mian Bazar where 216 Pak troops surrendered including the battallion commanding officer and eight of his officers.

Hilli and Charkai in the north falls:

Further north in the Balurghat Hilli region, Lt Gen M L Thapan's XXXIII Corps had taken Hilli railway station after heavy fighting. Large quantities of ammunition with american markings were captured and put up on display. Troops also captured the town of Charkai after severe fighting on the Hilli Charkai road. At one particular post which was well defended by the paksitani troops, 40 bodies were recovered including that of the post commander Maj Akram.

Shamshergunj and Gangasagar occupied:

In the Sylhet sector, troops of 8 Mtn Division under Maj Gen K V Krishna Rao had occupied the town of Shamshergunj. Troops of 57 Division under Maj Gen B F Gonsalves occupied the town of Gangasagar after facing stiff resistance from the enemy. The advancing battallion 14th Guards fought many of the battles.

One particular  jawan who distinguished himself in the advance is L/Nk  Albert Ekka.

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