Lt Gen Ponnappa presides over Battle Honour of Asla Uttar Day commemoration at Ferozepur
Lt Gen Ponnappa presides over Battle Honour of Asla Uttar Day commemoration at Ferozepur
Ferozepur, September 9, 2021: The Battle of Asal Uttar was one of the largest tank battles fought during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. It was fought from 08 Sep to 11 Sep 1965, when the Pakistan Army tanks and Infantry thrust was launched into Indian Territory, towards the town of Khem Karan. The Indian troops retaliated and after three days of fighting, the battle ended with the Pakistani forces being repulsed near Asal Uttar. The battle resulted in destruction and capture of around 97 Patton tanks of Pakistan Army as they filled the battlefield.
This battle witnessed an act of unparalled bravery in modern day war fighting displayed by CQMH Abdul Hamid, Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous) of 4 GRENADIERS who was instrumental in single handedly destroying seven enemy tanks between 07 and 09 Sep 1965 using his Recoilless Gun before making the supreme sacrifice. In the same battle, five Infantry Battalions, two Armoured and two Artillery Regiments which had fought in the battles were awarded the Battle Honour Asal Uttar for their conspicuous bravery and courage while facing heavy odds and with 165 casualties. These Battalions and Regiments were 4 GRENADIERS, 18 RAJPUTANA RIFLES, 1 DOGRA, 2 MAHAR, 9 JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIFLES, 9 HORSE, 3 CAVALRY, 91 MOUNTAIN REGIMENT and 40 MEDIUM REGIMENT.
The Battle Honour of Asal Uttar day commemoration was presided over by Lieutenant General C Bansi Ponnappa, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps and Colonel of the MAHAR Regiment. The memorial ceremony was organized by Agnibaan Brigade under the aegis of the Golden Arrow Division at the Shaheed Smarak near Asal Uttar village with solemnity and fervor befitting the occasion. The occasion was solemnized with wreath laying by Lieutenant General C Bansi Ponnappa, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, Major General Sandeep Singh, General Officer Commanding, Golden Arrow Division and Brigadier Ashish Khurana, Commander, Agnibaan Brigade followed by guard of honour at the resting place of the brave martyr. The ceremony was conducted following COVID protocols and concluded to the tune of ‘Last Post’ being sounded by the buglers and two-minute silence for the martyr. Wreaths were also laid by Colonel GS Sidhu, (Retired), the Company Officer of CQMH Abdul Hamid and Shri Parvez, Grandson of CQMH Abdul Hamid.
The civil administration officials, BSF personnel, Veterans and locals joined the Indian Army in remembering and paying homage to the gallant heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland
