An Infantry Battalion In Combat: A Critical Appraisal Of Battle Situations Encountered By An Infantry Battalion

With The Backdrop Of Development Of 1947-48, When It Occupied Some Areas Of Jammu And Kashmir, Pakistan Tried Its Luck Again In 1965 By Sending Across An Amalgam Of Regular Troops But This Time Without The Looters, Plunderers And Rapist Tribesmen. They Were Trained Men Of All Hues, Of Various Armed Organizations, With Army Personnel As Their Leaders. Pakistan Daydreamt That The Muslim Population Of The State, Particularly In Kashmir Valley And Punch Area Would Rise In Revolt Against The Indian Government And Support The Infiltrators And Intruders. Pakistan Failed To Understand The Social Vibes In The State, Which Were So Clear In 1965. The Muslim Majority Population In The Kashmir Valley And Punch Area Gave A Cold Shoulder To Pakistan. Her Calculations In The State Went Awry And Most Of The Intruders During 1965 Indo-Pak War Were Either Captured Or Killed And Only A Lucky Few Could Retrace Their Steps To Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. In Conducting Operations Against The Unconventional Enemy, A Lot Of Readjustments Of Forces By Own Army Was Adopted. At Times, Certain Momentary Vacations, Reverses And Losses Had To Be Accepted For Achieving Of The Major Goal Of Defeating The Designs Of Pakistan And Its Army. 7 Sikh Engaged Pakistani Infiltrators In Mandi Valley, Punch Sector In 1965 War. The Battalion Under The Command Of Lt Col Bhagat Singh, A Mature, Methodical And Accomplished Leader Of Men Gave A Very Good Account Of Itself In Operations Conducted Against The Enemy. Operationally Covering A Mountainous Area, Approximately 300 Square Kilometers Covered With Jungles And Dealing With Entrenched Enemy, Single Handedly In Mandi Valley, Was Not An Easy Task For An Overstretched Unit. The Enemy Advance Was Blunted By Resolute Sikh Troops At Gali Post, Which Was A Police Check Post, Located In A Bowl And Most Unsuitable For Defensive Operations. Troops Held Enemys Advance For Eight Days Despite Severe Casualties And Hardship. This Newly-Raised Battalion, Whose Most Of The Sub-Units Were Commanded By Junior But Dedicated Lot Of Officers, Under The Able Guidance Of Lt Col Bhagat Singh Faced Odds In An Exemplary Manner, First In Mandi Valley And Then During The Battle Of Op Hill In Mendhar Valley, Where It Captured A Ground Of Tactical Importance In A Brigade Attack. 7 Sikh Earned The Coveted Theater Honor Of J&K 1965 And Battle Honor Of Op Hill 1965.