Saluting our Heroes: Lance Naik Albert Ekka, 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 – Lance Naik, Albert Ekka, PVC ***

A tribute to Lance Naik Albert Ekka, PVC

Early December 1971, Eastern border: The flood of refugees fleeing from the genocide in East Pakistan keeps swelling by the day. The simmering tension on the border is palpable and hostilities are expected to break out anytime. The Indian troops on  the border have been mobilised and are in a state of full alert.

On the evening of of 3rd December, Pakistani aircrafts strike against cities and towns on the western border. PM Indira Gandhi declares the strikes as an act of war against India and orders mobilisation and counter-attacks.

On the morning of 4th December, men of 14 Guards are ordered to capture a position near Akhaura on the border between Tripura and Bangladesh.

Akhaura is part of “Sector 2” of the 11 sectors that have been organised by the provisional government to coordinate “Mukti Bahini” operations against the Pakistani army. The area is strategically important and is home to a heavy concentration of guerrillas (c. 35,000) and army regulars (c. 6000). Operations in this sector are critical to deny the Pakistani army access to the Dhaka Chittgong road (Pg 19, Liberation War of Bangladesh)

The key to the capture of Akhaura is the Pakistani position at Gangasagar, 6½ km west of Agartala that is well-fortified and strongly defended by the Pakistani army. Lance Naik Ekka is part of the left forward assault force on this position. The attack begins in the early hour of the dawn.

The Indian troops soon come under intense shelling and smalls arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions.

Here is what happened next:

Lance Naik Ekka observed that an enemy light machine gun was belching deadly fire from a bunker, causing heavy casualties to his company. Unmindful about his personal safety, he charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the light machine gun. Though seriously injured in this encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades with courage, securing bunker after bunker.

After battling through a distance of 1½ km, when Lance Naik Ekka and his comrades reached the northern end of the objective, an enemy medium machine gun opened up from the second floor of a well-fortified building. It inflicted heavy casualties on the Indian troops and help up their progress.

Once again Lance Naik Ekka, rose to the occasion. Unmindful of his personal safety, he crawled to the building and hurled a grenade into the bunker. One enemy soldier was killed and the other injured. But the MMG could not be silenced. Lance Naik Ekka then scaled the sidewall to enter the bunker. He bayoneted the enemy holding the bunker and silenced the deadly weapon.

With the MMG silenced, the company was soon able to close in and secure Gangasagar. The loss of Gangasagar forced the Pakistani troops to vacate Akhaura.

Unfortunately Lance Naik Ekka – grievously injured – did not live to see the day. As his citation noted, “In this action, Lance Naik Albert Ekka displayed the most conspicuous valour and determination and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Army”.

The Param Vir Chakra awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Albert Ekka was the only one on the Eastern front in the 1971 war. As you go about your day today, please take a moment to remember the braves who made India feel proud by their acts of valour and  supreme sacrifice and please share their inspirational stories widely with your friends and fellow citizens.

CITATION

Lance Naik Albert Ekka, 14 GUARDS  (NO 4239746)

Lance Naik Albert Ekka was in the left forward company of a battalion of the Brigade of Guards during their attack on the enemy defences at Gangasagar on the Eastern front. This was a well-fortified position held in strength by the enemy. The assaulting troops were subjected to intense shelling and heavy small-arms fire, but they charged onto the objective and were locked in bitter hand-to-hand combat. Lance Naik Albert Ekka noticed an enemy light machine-gun (LMG) inflicting heavy casualties on his company. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the LMG. Though seriously wounded in this encounter, he continued o fight alongside his comrades through the mile deep objective, clearing bunker after bunker with undaunted courage. Towards the northern end of te objective one enemy medium machine-gun (MMG) opened up from the second storey of a well-fortified building inflicting heavy casualties and holding up the attack. Once again this gallant soldier, without a thought for his personal safety, despite his serious injury and the heavy volume of enemy fire, crawled forward till he reached the building and lobbed a grenade into the bunker killing one enemy soldier and injuring the other. The MMG however continued to fire. With outstanding courage and determination Lance Naik Albert Ekka scaled a side wall and entering the bunker, bayoneted the enemy soldier who was still firing and thus silenced the machine-gun, saving further casualties to his company and ensuring the success of the attack. In this process however, he received serious injuries and succumbed to them after the capture of the objective.

In this action, Lance Naik Albert Ekka displayed the most conspicuous valour and determination and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Army.

***

Saluting our Heroes: 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: Capt Gurbachan Singh Salaria, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: Maj Shaitan Singh, PVC

Saluting our Heroes: Maj Somnath Sharma, PVC

Additional reading:  The Battle of Hilli