Saluting our Heroes: The “Param Veer”s of Tithwal

Continuing the series on our “Param Veers”…please take a moment today to remember the “Heroes of Tithwal“, Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat and Lance Naik Karam Singh.

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 – The Param Veers of Tithwal ***

CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat, PVC and Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC

The story of the “Heroes of Tithwal” takes us back to 1947-48 – when irregulars of the Pakistani Army, aided by Kabayilis attacked a newly independent nation to unlawfully seize territory and create mayhem in Jammu & Kashmir. This is the situation on the ground in the early part of 1948 (courtesy, the Indian Army website on operations in Jammu & Kashmir)..

Early Summer, 1948: Amidst continuation of hostilities, Pakistan is strengthening personnel and material back up to the hostiles and irregular forces operating in Jammu & Kashmir. There are also reports that “two infantry divisions…comprising five brigades, besides thousands of ‘Azad Kashmir’ troops, fully equipped and trained by Pakistan” are being inducted into Jammu & Kashmir.

In response, the Indian Army launches an offensive in May ’48 with simultaneous attacks from Dragmula and Handwara. Tithwal is taken on 23rd May but this gain proves to be short-lived…This is what happened next (courtesy Bharat-Rakshak.com):

…Pakistani raiders mounted a strong counter offensive in the Tithwal sector. The enemy also forced the Indian Army to vacate their forward positions across river Kishanganga…At this juncture, 6 Rajputana Rifles was moved from Uri to Tithwal to strengthen the 163 Bde in its impending offensive in the sector. The Indian offensive commenced on 11 July 1948…and continued well into mid-July. The recon reports, however, revealed that the enemy was holding a high feature in the area and that its capture was essential for making any further progress. Further ahead lay another feature also held in strength by the enemy.

The 6 Rajputana Rifles was assigned the task of securing these two features. The ‘D’ Company was to secure the first feature...The ‘D’ Company launched its attack on the objective at 0130 hrs on July 18th. The path to the objective was about one metre wide with deep ravines on either side. Overlooking this narrow path were the hidden enemy bunkers. The company was subjected to heavy fire and with half an hour it suffered 51 casualties. During this battle, CHM Singh was with the leading section of the company, more than half of which was mowed down by the devastating fire of the enemy. He rushed forward to deal with the enemy medium machine gun post which was playing havoc with his troops. Enemy grenade splinters ripped open his clothes and wounded several parts of his body. But this did not deter him. He still continued the advance, shouting the battle cry, “Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai”.

Rushing forward he bayonetted the crew of the enemy MMG, with his own sten gun, silenced the menacing gun and occupied the post. By this time all his companions lay behind either dead or wounded.

The responsibility of clearing the enemy from the hill feature lay with him alone. Bleeding profusely he inched forward to attack the second enemy MMG post. At this juncture a grenade wounded him in the face. The blood dripping from his face almost blinded him. By now all the sten gun ammunition with him had been spent. He courageously crawled out of the occupied enemy trench and hurled grenades at the next enemy post.

CHM Singh then jumped into another trench and bayonetted two enemy soldiers to death. As CHM Singh, emerged out of the second trench to charge on the third enemy bunker, he was hit in head by a bullet and was seen dropping on the edge of the enemy trench. There was an explosion in the trench which showed that the grenade had done its work. By then CHM Piru Singh’s wound had proved fatal.

As I read this excerpt from Bharat-Rakshak, my heart swelled with pride and my eyes filled with tears. Sadly, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat’s story – along with countless other tales of extraordinary heroics and bravery – lies buried somewhere in our history – untold, unsung and forgotten…As you go about your day today, take a pledge to forward this story to at least three friends or family…Make sure that the Param Veers of Tithwal are not forgotten. Make sure they did not give up their lives in vain.

Lance Naik Karam Singh’s act is no less inspiring…It is set in October 1948.

Although Indian forces managed to take Tithwal in May, they were forced to retreat back to Tithwal ridge (on the other side of Kishanganga river) amidst an enemy counter-offensive in late summer.  But the troops had Tithwal ridge and were in a position of advantage. This is what happened next:

On October 13th, Pakistani forces they launched a desperate attack in brigade strength to evict the Indian Army from their strongly held positions. The objective was to recapture Richhmar Gali to the south of Tithwal and to outflank the Indian Army by marching on to Nastachur Pass to the east of Tithwal. Both attempts failed.

During this attack, some bitter fighting took place in the Richhmar Gali area on the night of October 13th. The attack commenced with heavy shelling of guns and mortar. The fire was so devastating that nearly all bunkers in the platoon area were damaged.

In this action the 1 Sikh played a very important role in beating back the enemy onslaught. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a forward outpost when the enemy launched the attack. His post was attacked by the enemy in vastly superior strength. The outpost was attacked eight times and the Sikhs repulsed the enemy every time.

When ammunition ran short, Lance Naik Karam Singh joined the main company position, knowing fully well that due to the heavy enemy shelling no help would be forthcoming..Communications with his commander were also cut off, hence Karam Singh was unable to update his situation or ask for reinforcements. Although himself wounded, he brought back two injured comrades with the help of a third mate.

Ringed by enemy fire, it was almost impossible for them to break out. Ignoring all dangers, he crawled from place to place encouraging his men to keep up the fight. Often he beat back the enemy with grenades. Twice wounded, he refused evacuation and continued to hold on to the first-line trenches.

The fifth enemy attack was very intense. Two enemy soldiers came so close to his position that he could not engage them without hitting his men. Lance Naik Karam Singh, jumped out of his trench and bayoneted the two intruders to death. This bold action so demoralised the enemy that they broke off the attack. Three more enemy attacks which followed were also repulsed by Lance Naik Karam Singh and his men.

In the end, the enemy was forced to retreat and Richhmar Gali remained under Indian control.

Lance Naik Karam Singh’s act of extraordinary courage and bravery will forever be associated with the battle of Tithwal. For his conspicuous bravery and act of valour, Lance Naik Karam Singh was hounoured with the Param Vir Chakra. He retired from the Army as a Honorary Captain.

CITATION

Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, 6th Battalion, The Rajputana Rifles (NO 2831592)

South of Tithwal, ‘D’ Company, of which No 2831592 Piru Singh, was Havildar Major was detailed to attack and capture an enemy occupied hill feature.  The enemy had well dug in positions and had sited his MMGs so as to cover all possible approaches.  As the attack advanced, it was met with heavy MMG fire from both flanks.  Volleys of grenades were hurled down from enemy bunkers.  Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was then with the forward most Section of the company.

Seeing more than half of the Section killed or wounded, he did not lose courage.  With battle cries he encouraged the remaining men and rushed forward with great determination onto the nearest enemy MMG position.  Grenade splinters ripping his clothes and wounding him at several places, he continued to advance without the least regard for his safety.  He was on top of the MMG position wounding the gun crew with Sten gun fire.  With complete disregard to his bleeding wounds he made a mad jump on the MMG crew bayoneting them to death, thus silencing the gun.

By then he suddenly realized that he was the sole survivor of the section, the rest of them either dead or wounded.  Another grenade thrown at him wounded him in the face.  With blood dripping from his face wounds in his eyes, he crawled out of the trench, hurling grenades at the next enemy position.

With a loud battle cry, he jumped on the occupants of the next trench bayoneting two to death. The ‘C’ Company Commander who was directing fire in support of the attacking company witnessed this action.

As Havilder Major Piru Singh emerged out of the second trench to charge on the 3rd enemy bunker, he was hit in the head by a bullet and was seen dropping on the edge of the enemy trench. There was an explosion in the trench, which showed that his grenade had done its work. By then Company Havildar Major Piru Singh’s wounds had proved fatal.

He had paid with his life for his singularly brave act, but he had left for the rest of his comrades an unique example of single-handed bravery and determined cold courage.

CITATION

Lance Naik Karam Singh, 1 Sikh (NO 22356)

Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was captured on 23 May 1948.  After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal.  On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Id, the enemy decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley .  Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali.

The enemy commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars.  The fire was so accurate that not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed.

Communication trenches caved in.  Bravely, Lance Naik karam Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urging the men to fight.

The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day.  In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality.  Immediately, Lance Naik Karam Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter which accounted for many enemy dead, having been dispatched by the bayonet.

Lance Naik Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis.  Nothing could subdue him and no amount of fire or hardship could break his spirit.

Related Posts: Pl see the series of posts under “National Heroes” and don’t forget the book: “Saluting our Heroes: The Param Virs of Bharat“