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Pune war heroes recount 1971 Indo-Pak war

As the country observes the start of the 40th anniversary of the Indo-Pak war, two Pune-based war heroes, Lt Gen (retd) BT Pandit and Col (retd) Sadanand Salunke recount their experience.

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As the country observes the start of the 40th anniversary of the Indo-Pak war (December 3-16, 1971), two city-based war heroes, Lt Gen (retd) BT Pandit (79) and Col (retd) Sadanand Salunke (76), both Vir Chakra awardees in this war, recount their actions which earned them the honour.

Pandit, an engineer officer who fought in the decisive battle of Basantar in the western sector, remembers how the Pakistanis had laid impregnable mines around the Basantar rivulet. According to him, there was one mine which the enemy did not expect the Indian Army to clear for at least two days.

However, Pandit, then a Lieutenant Colonel, and his men cleared the mines in 4 hours flat on the night of December 15-16. This significant effort on the part of Pandit’s team helped the army move two infantry battalions and one armoured regiment into enemy territory in the wee hours of December 16.

Speaking to DNA on Friday evening, Pandit said, “The enemy was taken by surprise and lost 55 tanks, and an entire infantry brigade of the enemy was made inoperational by our troops, hastening the ceasefire in the western sector.’’

It was this act of breaching the minefield in record time that earned Pandit the Vir Chakra. Pandit, who retired as adjutant general of the army said, “The war began in the eastern sector first (East Pakistan, later, Bangladesh). We were impatient for the battle. Hence, when prime minister Indira Gandhi announced war in the western sector over the radio on December 3, we were overjoyed. We were itching for action, especially after we saw three Pakistani fighter jets in our airspace on the night of December 3.’’

Likewise, Salunke has a gripping tale to narrate. Then a Major, he was commanding a company of the 6th battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry in the Amristar-Lahore sector. Salunke said, “My company was tasked to capture the Nainakot taluka headquarters and neighbouring villages in Lahore district. Following a pitched battle with enemy forces, my soldiers and I successfully captured the taluka office and the villages.’’

Salunke was awarded the Vir Chakra for successfully capturing the taluka headquarters after 10 days of battle. But he made light of the gallantry award. “I am grateful and indebted to my jawans who fought extremely bravely. I got the Vir Chakra because of their bravery. I was just their commander,’’ he said.

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