Dated 10th December 1971 , Friday

Rupees 0.25 Paise

Chamb ground battles erupt.
IAF engages PAF over Battle Area.

Search for Khukri's Survivors still on.

Dec 10, NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy had continued its rescue effort for any survivors from the sinking of the INS Khukri for the second day in continuation.

A total of 67 survivors have been confirmed to have been rescued by ships in the area. 195 Officers and Sailors are still missing.

Mean while the hunt for the killer submarine is still on. Indian Navy ships are still searching the entire area for  the enemy submarine.

10 Dec 1971 : Western Sector:  Fighting flared up once again in the Chamb area with Pakistani troops making another concentrated effort to break trough the Indian Defence lines.

The attack aimed at securing the western bank of the Manwar Tawi would have resulted in the Capture of Jaurian and maybe the Akhnur Bridge in what would have been a repeat of the 1965 Scenario in Chamb. More importantly it would have outflanked our troops and forces conducting operations in the chicken neck area and the Shakargarh bulge.

However ably aided by the Indian Air Force, the Army had beaten back the attack.

At approximately 6.30 am, troops of the Pakistani  III Brigade consisting of 4 Punjab and 10 Baluch , supported by T-59 tanks of the 28 Cavalry   attempted to cross at Darh and suceeded in establishinga bridghead on the East bank.

The Indian unit in the area, 9 Jat along with another battalion that reinforced it subsequenlty ambushed Pakistani troops trying to make thier way into the bridgehead. This was followed up by an attack by T-55 tanks of Indian 9 Deccan Horse and the 72nd Armoured Regiment.

By evening, Pakistani troops have begun evacuating the bridgehead , not able to take the onlslaught of the Indian Army's attacks.

Six of the Pakistani T-59 tanks have been left behind and have been captured by us. One of them is in running condition.

A radio transmission intercept also mentioned that a Pakistani Army Helicopter crashed in the rear areas, killing a high ranking officer of the Pakistani forces. This coupled with our air attacks seemed to have demoralised the enemy completely.

The Indian Air Force too was active in this area, providing Air support for the Army and also flying sorties against the Pakistani Air Force. One Hunter aircraft from the No.27 Squadron, flown by Sqn Ldr M K Jain was seen being hit by  ....[Read Full Story]

Alize aircraft Missing: Pak  claims to have shot it down.

Dec 10,  Okha: A Breguet Alize Anit Submarine Warfare Aircraft of the Indian Navy has been reported missing off the coast of Okha. The Aircraft , which is from No.310 INAS, the "Cobras" has been on a submarine detection mission of the coast of Kathaiwar when it went missing.

The crew consisted of Lt Ashok Roy as the pilot, His Observer Lt Sirohi and TAG Seaman O Vijayan. No radio signal or call for distress was recieved from the missing aircraft.

The Turbo Propellor aircraft, equipped with ASW Radar has been involved in the search for the submarine which sank the Khukri.

Meanwhile a Pakistani Navy   Spokesman in Rawalpindi had claimed that one of their F-104 Starfighters had shot down the Alize off the Coast of Okha. This report has not been confirmed by the Indian Side.

A Search has been mounted to locate the aircraft or survivors.

Previous Issues

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Gunboat Diplomacy by Nixon.

Paracommandos destroy guns at Mandhol

Dec 10, Poonch: In another dramatic raid behind enemy lines, troops of the 9 Para Commando unit infilitrated behind Pakistani lines in Poonch and suceeded in blowing up a Pakistani Artillery position.

Troops led by Maj C N Malhotra and Capt Cariappa attacked the Pakistani Arty Contingent at Mandhol and subsequently with the help of Delayed Explosive charges blew up Six of the Chinese 122mm guns.

Air Operations in the Eastern Sector

Dec 10, EASTERN SECTOR: The IAF had in today's operations carried out an extensive attack against Pakistani ground forces in the Bogra, Hilli and Chandpur sectors. Three Pakistani Navy's Patrol boats have been sunk by Gnats in the southern part of East Pakistan.

A Hunter from No.14 Squadron crashed in Hilli region after Engine failure. The Pilot Sqn Ldr R Sachdeva was killed in the crash. This was confirmed by our troops on the ground who visited the crash site.

Dec 10, Agartala: In another dramatic move in the advance to East Pakistan's capitla of Dacca, Indian Army troops are being helilifted across the massive Meghna River in huge numbers bypassing the sole remaining Pakistani position in between.

Yesterday's battle at Ashuganj , the only bridge over the Meghna that provided the troops of IV Corps a direct route to Dacca showed that capturing Ashuganj is a daunting task that might result in high casualities.

Moreover Aerial photos have shown that the Bridge at Ashuganj has been destroyed and it would require the Army Engineers to construct a new bridge over the sprawling Meghna if our troops have to continue the advance top Dacca.

The Commander of IV Corps, Lt Gen Sagat Singh, has decided to airlift troops from Brahmanbaria using Mi-4 Helicopters of the IAF. The Helicopters used in yesterday's airlift to Sylhet were called back and immediately ... [Read Full Story]

Dec 10, Adampur: In another dramatic incident, another pilot of the IAF on a strike mission flew back his aircraft after it has been severly damaged by enemy action. Wing Commander Harcharan Singh Manget , who is the comanding officer of No.32 Thunderbirds Squadron flying the Sukhoi-7 had been involved in the thick of the action from Day One. His squadron had flown many sorties against enemy airfields causing considerable damage to aircraft and installations.

Wg Cdr Manget had flown many Photo reconaisance missions to verify the damage and claims of his squadron's aircraft. He had to fly another mission today to take some photo recce pictures over Pakistan.

However on reaching his target , his aircraft was intercepted  by a Pakistani F-6 fighter. Against a nimble aircraft like the F-6, the lumbering huge Sukhoi would not stand a chance. ...[Read Full Story]