Saluting our Heroes: 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC

From the Indian Army website:

The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.

*** Saluting our Heores – 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC ***

A tribute to 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal who sacrificed his life on this date,  38 years ago.

Early December 1971, Shakargarh Sector: The war that began with outbreak of hostilities in Dacca between Paksitani armed forces and Bangladeshi resistance in March 1971 is in its final decisive stage. Pakistan has decided to pre-emptively attack India (3rd December) and opened the western front to divert Indian forces from the eastern border. The “Shakargarh bulge” is one of the key locations on the western front. The area links Punjab with Jammu & Kashmir and is close to the border with Pakistan. Securing the region is critical for India as Pakistan can easily launch an invasion from the base at nearby Sialkot potentially cutting off Jammu & Kashmir from the rest of India.

As this article notes:

Invading Shakargarh bulge (is)…one of the most crucial components of Pakistan’s war strategy in the western sector….by occupying the bulge, the main link between Indian Army positions in Kashmir and Pathankot would be cut-off, following which, it (Pakistan) could easily invade Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani military forces stationed in Sialkot base would keep Pathankot at bay, thwarting any Indian attempts to recapture Shakargarh.

After days of intense fighting, the battle appears to be turning into a stalemate. Pakistan is desperate to seek control of the area…and is ready to deploy even more fire-power in a last-ditch attempt to seize the bulge.

As fighting spills into the second week of December, the 47th Infantry Brigade, along with 17th Poona Horse is orderd to establish a bridge-head across Basantar river, a key location in securing control over the area . The area is fully land-mined and the troops will therefore have to proceed with great caution.

Under enemy fire and facing ardous conditions, the men of 47th Infantry manage to establish the bridge-head by the night of 15th December 1971.  The engineers are now tasked with clearing the minefields on the other side to pave the way for 17th Poona Horse.

Late into the night, as the engineers are still half-way through their task, troops guarding the bridgehead report a rapidly advancing enemy armour. The engineers request urgent tank support but time is short.

The men of 17th Poona Horse decide that they cannot wait for reinforcements to arrive and decide to “push through the minefield come what may”

Here is what happened next:

By first light on December 16th, the regiment established a link-up between the armour and the infantry at the bridgehead. At 0800 hours, the enemy made a counter-attack with an armour regiment, under the cover of a smoke screen. The target was the regimental pivot at Jarpal.

As the Indians troops were heavily outnumbered, the Commander of ‘B’ Squadron requested reinforcement. At that time, 2nd Lt. Khetarpal was positioned close to the squadron with his troops in two tanks. He answered the call and voluntarily moved out to face the enemy attack.

On the way, his troops came under fire from enemy strong points and recoilless gun nests, in the bridgehead zone. 2nd Lt. Khetarpal fiercely attacked these strong points; over-ran enemy defences and captured many enemy soldiers and recoilless guns at gunpoint.

During one of these attacks, the commander of his second tank was killed on the spot leaving him alone. But he continued attack on the enemy strongholds single-handed, until all the enemy positions were overwhelmed.

He then raced to the ‘B’ Squadron position. By the time he reached there, the enemy tanks were on the retreat. He pursued and destroyed one of these tanks. The ‘B’ Squadron Commander could persuade him to fall back in line after great difficulty.

The enemy soon reformed for a second attack. This time they chose the sector held by 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal and two other Officers, for the main attack. The enemy employed a complete armoured squadron against these three tanks in order to achieve a breakthrough.

A fierce tank battle followed.

As many as ten enemy tanks were destroyed and of these 2nd Lieutenant Khetarpal alone destroyed four. In the thick of the battle, two of the three Indian tanks became casualties – one was hit and another suffered mechanical failure.

2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal’s tank also received a shot and burst into flames.  He was himself severely wounded. He was asked to abandon his tank but he realized that the enemy though badly decimated, was continuing to advance in his sector of responsibility and if he abandoned his tank the enemy would break through.

His response to his Commander was: “No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working and I will get these bastards.”

He gallantly fought on and destroyed another enemy tank – this one a bare 100mtrs away from his position.

The job was done but fate denied 2nd Lieutenant Khetarpal  the sweet joy of victory. At this stage his tank received a second hit that sniffed the life away from this brave officer but denied the enemy the breakthrough that they so desperately needed.

2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal’s exceptional valour ensured that not one enemy tank got through. As his “Citation” noted, “(His) was an act of courage and self-sacrifice far beyond the call of duty”

Arun Khetarpal had just turned 21 and had been inducted into 17th Poona Horse just six months before the fateful battle of Basantar. As you go about your day today, please spare a moment to remember these heroes.

CITATION

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, POONA HORSE (IC-25067)

On 16 December 1971, the Squadron Commander of ‘B’ Squadron, the Poona Horse asked for reinforcement as the Pakistani Armour which was superior in strength, counter attacked at Jarpal, in the Shakargarh Sector. On hearing this transmission, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal who was in ‘A’ Squadron, voluntarily moved along with his troop, to assist the other squadron. En route, while crossing the Basantar River, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and his troop came under fire from enemy strong points and RCL gun nests that were still holding out. Time was at a premium and as critical situation was developing in the ‘B’ Squadron sector, Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, threw caution to the winds and started attacking the impending enemy strong points by literally charging them, overrunning the defence works with his tanks and capturing the enemy infantry and weapon crew at pistol point. In commander of his troop was killed. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal continued to attack relentlessly until all enemy opposition was overcome and he broke through towards the ‘B’ Squadron position, just in time to see the enemy tanks pulling back after their initial probing attack on this squadron. He was so carried away by the wild enthusiasm of battle and the impetus of his own headlong dash that he started chasing the withdrawing tanks and even managed to shoot and destroy one. Soon thereafter, the enemy reformed with a squadron of armour for a second attack and this time they selected the sector held by Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and two other tanks as the points for their main effort. A fierce tank fight ensured ten enemy tanks were hit and destroyed of which Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was severely wounded. He was asked to abandon his tank but he realised that the enemy though badly decimated was continuing to advance in his sector of responsibility and if he abandoned his tank the enemy would break through, he gallantry fought on and destroyed another enemy tank, At this stage his tank received a second hit which resulted in the death of this gallant officer.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was dead but he had, by his intrepid valour saved the day; the enemy was denied the breakthrough he was so desperately seeking. Not one enemy tank got through.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal had shown the best qualities of leadership, tenacity of purpose and the will to close in with the enemy. This was an act of courage and self-sacrifice far beyond the call of duty.

***

Related Posts:

Saluting our Heroes: Capt Gurbachan Singh Salaria, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: Maj Shaitan Singh, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: Maj Somnath Sharma, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: The “Param Vir Chakra” series