The history of Laungewala Battle was seen in the movie “Border” but the real story is slightly different from story shown in the movie and it is better to know the actual facts, as revealed by the keeper of archives.
I have divided, the entire story of battle into three parts.
First part is the Battle of Laungewala
Second Part is the Battle of BOP 638
Third Part is the story of Battle as narrated by natives
Let’s begin First part…
Battle of Laungewala
Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was commanding “Alpha” company of 23 Punjab Regiment which was occupying a defensive position at Laungewala. On the commencement of hostilities by Pakistan, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri dispatched a patrol of 21 men under Lieutenant Dharamvir towards boundary pillar (BP) 638 to keep the enemy under surveillance. The patrol reported heavy movement of tanks and other vehicles approaching Laungewala on the night of 4/5 December 1971. The enemy was identified as 38 Baluch of 51 infantry brigade supported by 22 cavalry with Chinese T-59 tanks and squadron of US built Sherman tanks.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri resolved to save Laungewala, and therefore, lauded his men in chaste Punjabi “ Anyone who is afraid to face the enemy is free to run away now, although it will be a shame to the battalion and its ancestors, but remember, I intend to stand and fight to the last”. The courage and determination displayed by the company commander made an incredible impact on the men and the rest is history.
At about 4:30 AM, on 5th December 1971. Once the enemy tanks came in effective range, two 106 MM Recoilless Rifles of 23 Punjab fired and destroyed one T-59 tank and a Jeep carrying a senior Pakistani officer. Sepoy (Later Naib Subedar) Mathura Das and Sepoy Jagjit Singh, despite being severely wounded, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy with their light and medium machine guns.
At first light on 5th December 1971, hunter aircraft of Indian Air Force caused mayhem on the Pakistani tanks, having suffered heavy casualties, the enemy lost the initiative and hastily withdrew towards Khairpur, effectively ending their grand and foolhardy plans to have lunch at Ramgarh and dinner at Jaisalmer.
This proud victory, was achieved by the Indian Army inflicting heavy damage, casualties and national shame on Pakistan, three Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and three were injured in the true traditions of “ Service Before Self”. Pakistan lost 179 soldiers, and 34 of their tanks were destroyed in this battle of guts and glory fought by the Indian Army.
The important part of this battle was played by land mines laid by Indian soldiers near the Laungewala post. Since the tanks of Pakistani army was approaching the Laungewala Post and number of tanks brought by Pakistani army was outnumbering the presence of Indian tanks for defense. So, cleverly, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, ordered his men to laid down the land mine near the post, in order to stop tanks.
When Pakistani tanks came near to the post and few of their tanks stepped on to the land mines, they were destroyed. This was unexpected by Pakistan army and it stalled movement of Pakistani army and tanks. At night, in the crucial hours, Pakistani army spent two precious hours in search of land mines, which allowed Indian army to prepare and also gave time to Indian Air force to strike back. This was the best show and use of battle tricks by Indian Army and it proved that “Battle needs equal application of strength and brain, it can not be won only through strength”
The story is not over yet….