attack on pakistan
After an aerial survey, on 7 December, the 4/5 Gorkha Regiment, accompanied by mountain guns and a team of engineers, began the attack. Along with this, the Mountain Brigade of the army was also with it. The MI was airlifted by 4 helicopters. These helicopters had landed at a pre-decided place. This place was the eastern bank of the Surma river flowing from Meerapura. About one and a half kilometers from the bridge, the Indian Army airlifted the soldiers by running an operation. When the helicopters started landing in the afternoon, the enemy was taken by surprise. The Surma River is a part of the most powerful Meghna River in Bangladesh. If the Indian army had to reach Sylhet, they had to cross the Surma river.
started firing
As soon as the enemy got a clue of this, he started firing. The number of Pakistan Army soldiers in Sylhet was up to eight times more than that of the Indian Army. Even today, defense experts believe that this war was fought with wisdom, better strategy and courage, not with strength. From time to time the Indian army adopted its own way of fighting and then won. 6000 soldiers of Pakistan were present in Sylhet. According to the intelligence received by the Indian Army, this number was very less. When the Indian Army reached here, the mistake was realized.
The bridge over the Surma river was destroyed by the Pakistan Army. Sylhet was the base of Pakistan’s army, due to which the supply route with Dhaka was very strong. In such a situation, the way to reach Dhaka used to pass through Sylhet. It was impossible to reach Dhaka without winning Sylhet. Sylhet is bordered by Meghalaya in the north and Assam in the east. The Pakistani army had laid a very strong siege here. 31 Punjab had handled the front here. Pakistani soldiers were present just before the Surma river.
Mustaid Gurkha Jawan
Muktivahini was given the task of clearing this river and she could not complete it. Then the Gorkha Rifles with 750 soldiers was entrusted with this responsibility. India had received information that Pakistan’s 202 Infantry Brigade was deployed in the security of Sylhet. But this information proved to be wrong and the enemy attacked. Gurkha soldiers were ready even before the declaration of war. Gurkha soldiers defeated Pakistani soldiers with Khukri and Pak soldiers had to retreat.
landing by torchlight
When the Pakistani army left the occupation of Atgram and Ghazipur, a plan was made for the landing of 10 helicopters of Gorkha soldiers in Sylhet. Gurkha soldiers were ordered for heliborne operation. Earlier, Gurkha jawans had never boarded a helicopter, nor were they given any training for this. Gorkha soldiers rehearsed it at around 9:30 pm and the operation was launched at 2.30 am.
Under the plan, seven MI helicopters were to land the Gurkha jawans by helicopter. But the difficulty was that neither landing nor take off was possible during the night. After this, with the help of 80 torches, the shape of the helipad was made on the ground. It was made exactly like a place with a helipad. The landing signal was clearly visible and landing was possible.
Benefit of BBC’s mistake
Hearing the sound of the helicopter of Gorkha soldiers, Pakistani soldiers attacked while saying Allah-hu-Akbar. After this Pakistani soldiers were attacked along with Khukri. Dhaka was about 300 kilometers away from the place where the battle was taking place. This distance was taken advantage of. By the time the Pakistani soldiers reached Sylhet, the Gorkha soldiers would have completed their mission.
Pakistan was not aware of the number of Gorkha soldiers. The mistake of BBC on this also benefited the Indian Army. In its report, BBC has told the Gorkha battalion as a brigade i.e. the number of 3000 soldiers. Pakistan was also horrified to hear this. The heliborne operation was carried out by the 110 helicopter unit of the Indian Air Force.
Pakistan laid down arms
The Indian soldiers had made a big cordon. Due to this the enemy felt that Indian soldiers were present in large numbers. Pakistani soldiers did not come out due to fear. 800 Gorkha soldiers had kept 6000 soldiers of Pakistan locked up. In the day, the MiG and Hunter aircraft of the Indian Air Force would attack, and in the night the Gorkha soldiers would wreak havoc. The morale of the Pakistani soldiers was broken and after nine days the Pakistani soldiers started laying down their arms.