News Article in Depth

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

"Next time hope to find you with a Sten instead of a Pen..."
A Pakistani commander's foolhardy reply.

Dec 11, Jamalpur: Operating in the central sector, North of Dhaka is the 101 Communication Zone, a static formation which is now engaged in a war of movements. 101 CZ has two fighting formations with it, 95 Mtn Brigade and FJ Sector. Already this formation had a change of command in the first days, when the GOC, Maj Gen Gurbux Singh was wounded in the legs after his jeep went over a minefield. Under the command of Maj Gen G Nagra, who has been deputed from 2 Mtn Div, the formation was tasked with capture of key towns and advance upto Dhaka.

Leading the advance was Brig Hardev Singh Kler, known as Harry to his friends. Brig Kler's list of objectives includes capture of Jamalpur fortress which is just across the Brahmaputra River by the end of first week. As per the original plan, the initial objectives were achieved and the Brigade found itself outside Jamalpur fortress by Dec 09 morning. The Brigade had concentrated two battalions, 1 Maratha and 13 Guards, who have surrounded Jamalpur from all sides.

Yesterday, Brig Kler sent a note thru a Mukti Bahini messenger asking the Pakistani garrison to surrender, or face an even heavier bombardment by artillery or the IAF.

The messenger soon returned with a letter from the Pakistani Commander who sent a note wrapped in a 7.62mm Chinese make bullet. The note said:

"Dear Brigadier,
1.Hoping this firnds you in high spirits, Thanks for the letter.
2.We here in Jamalpur are waiting for the fight to commence. It had not started yet. So let us not talk and start it.
3. 40 sorties, I may point out, are inadequate, Please ask for more.
4.Your remark about your messenger getting proper treatment is superflous, shows how you underestimate my boys. I hope he liked his tea. Give my regards to the Muktis.
5.Hoping to find you with a sten in your hand next time, instead of a pen you seem to have so much mastery over.
I am your most
Sincerely
Comdr, Jamalpur Fortress"

Brigadier Kler called in his units to move closer to Jamalpur and establish road blocks. Starting yesterday morning, a number of sorties were flown by the IAF against the Jamalpur garrison.

Brig Kler's troops were preparing for an attack on the Jamalpur garrision when the Pakistani commander, now identified as Lt Col Sultan Ahmed attempted a breakout. Faced with a cordon, Ahmed's troops tried frontal assault to break up the encirclement and were cut down by murderous fire by our troops belonging to 13 Guards and 6 Sikh LI.

By today morning, A number of Pakistanis had been rounded up as Prisoners of War and at last count it was more than 350. The Pakistani Commander Sultan seemed to have given us the slip , albiet at the cost of his other troops.

It seems that the Pakistanis have continously underestimated the troops in the cordon, and attempted multiple frontal assualts. The Pakistani Commander would have been better off if he had heeded the advise of Brig Kler in his letter. Ultimately his show of Bravado with words failed to translate into proper action on the ground!

Now there are no hurdles for Brig Kler or his troops in travessing the 50 miles or so distance and link up with the Parachute Brigade's troops who have landed at Tangail. The noose around Dacca is tightning as days go by.