I am Kargil. Not just one word. No location. The sentiments of the entire country are connected with me. I have seen bravery. Even the supreme sacrifice. The enemies of this earth are sitting on both sides of me. One Pakistan. Second China. Keep an eye on me like a vulture. How can they get a chance and plant their flag on me? Even tried. in 1999. But the leopards of our army lit the pyre of the enemies. Today I will tell the story of the 1999 war in the words of those peaks of mine…
The infiltrators had started the war in May by sitting on my shoulders and head. But I was seeing how those cowards had started preparations from February itself. I am saying coward because they were doing it secretly. In February, four to seven battalions of his army crossed the Indian border and came towards me. There were fighters of Pakistani Special Services Group, Northern Light Infantry. Made base on about 132 high points on my peaks. In winter, when snow remains frozen.
These Pakistani infiltrators also got the support of Kashmiri guerrillas and Afghan murderers. But most of the infiltration took place in April. When some snow melts. The infiltrators came from the lower Muskoh valley and the other side of the Marpo La ridgeline of Dras. Some came from Kaksar near Kargil. Then from the other side of the Indus river east of Batalik sector. Came from Chorbut La sector across the border to the north. Apart from this, they came from Turtuk sector in the south of Siachen area. I was watching the flow of all this.
My height is not short. It ranges from 6 thousand to 18 thousand feet. It is difficult. Even fatal. Breathing stops here. Blood freezes in the veins itself. The armies of Pakistan and India do not stay here in winter. Both the countries had made this agreement. But the Pakistanis came. At that time the chief of his army was General Pervez Musharraf. He was the one who launched Operation Badr to capture my peaks. The objective was to cut off the Srinagar-Leh highway. So that the direction of the border between the two countries changes.
Actually, there are a total of 23 peaks in my entire spread. The highest peak is Point 5608. 18399 feet high. The youngest is Bardam. About 14964 feet high. The intention of the intruders was to capture all the peaks. But now read the story of those peaks of mine that have seen battle…
Battle of Tololing
This peak of mine is present in Dras sector. Just opposite Srinagar-Leh Highway. There are two points on Tololing Peaks. Point 5140 and Point 4875. These peaks are to the west of Tololing Peak. It is here that our Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. These peaks are not easy. It is 16 thousand feet high. There are snake like paths here. But the infiltrators had captured the upper parts. The mercury here ranges from minus 5 to minus 11. It is difficult to climb up yourself. Even more difficult if you have weapons with you.
The intruders sitting above were taking advantage of this. Indian heroes were moving forward inch by inch. Lying down. The Indian Army asked its 13 JAK Rifles, 18 Garhwal Rifles and 1 Naga to attack from three sides. Artillery firing also continued. Shells were raining from the Indian side. This was the time when Captain Vikram Batra killed four intruders in hand-to-hand fighting. After this Captain SS Jamwal launched the last attack. Blowed seven Sangaads. Driven back the Pakistanis.
I saw that in the next few days, the brave soldiers of the Indian Army recaptured Rocky and Black Tooth. The Pakistanis were killed and chased away. Policeman here. Ashuli was martyred. He was tying a rope on a cliff to hoist the tricolor flag on Black Tooth. Then he was martyred by enemy bullets. With this, India achieved victory on Point 5140 and Bump 9 and 10.
Point 4700 and Three Pimples
Before moving towards Tiger Hill, Indian heroes targeted point 4700. After being driven away from Tololing and Point 5140, the Pakistanis were occupying Point 4700 and Three Pimples. Some of the escaped infiltrators had come here and settled down. Then 18 Garhwal Rifles started the operation. Victory was achieved despite heavy firing from the enemy sitting at height. Along with this, two features named Rocky and Sangad were also captured. Next was the turn of three pimples.
The Three Pimples are a complex geographical formation. There are Knoll, Lone Hill and Three Pimples peaks here. From here the enemies were keeping an eye on every movement of the Indian Army. Were keeping an eye on the firing of Bofors. Then Lieutenant Colonel MB Ravindranath, Commanding Officer of 2 Rajputana Rifles, launched the mission. But it slowed down due to the difficult climb. Pakistanis were using automatic weapons. But the Indian Army first captured Knoll, then Lone Hill and finally Three Pimples.
On Lone Hill, Pakistanis were firing with MMG i.e. medium machine guns. But the brave Captain N. of the deadly platoon. Kanguruse attacked this peak barefoot. Killed four infiltrators single-handedly. But he was badly injured in this attack. Died on my own land.
Battle of Tiger Hill…
This has been discussed the most. Tiger Hill is just 10 kilometers away from the Srinagar-Leh Highway. It was very important to hoist the tricolor back on it. Then Brigadier MPS Bajwa, commander of 192 Mountain Brigade, was assigned the mission to capture it. He entrusted this task to 18 Grenadiers and 8 Sikh soldiers. The crack team of the Indian Army was there to help them. This team came from High Altitude Warfare School. Apart from this, artillery and combat support was being provided. Because this peak was 16500 feet high.
The Indian Army attacked Tiger Hill from many directions. Along with this, help was being provided from Bofors cannon balls and multibarrel rocket launcher. Before this, fighter jets of the Indian Air Force launched fierce bombing and missiles on Tiger Hill. At that time this peak was in the possession of 12 Northern Light Infantry of Pakistan. On the night of 3 July, 18 Grenadiers started the climb. It was terrible dangerous weather. With a deadly climb. But Pakistanis were no less clever. They were firing on this contingent from three sides. That too from height.
Then Captain Sachin Nimbalkar was sent with a company to secure 100 meters below the peak. Whereas it was very dangerous. Lieutenant Balwan Singh’s fatal platoon was only 30 meters below the peak. With the help of Bofors bombing, both the companies started climbing towards the peak. He tricked the enemy in such a way that even today he would be shocked to think about it. On the other hand, Pakistan had also started shelling. Due to this, soldiers on both sides were losing their lives. To defeat Pakistan, it was necessary to break their supply line.
On July 5, 8 Sikh battalion completed this work. Then 18 Grenadiers completely cleared the top of Tiger Hill and hoisted the tricolor. It was here that Paramvir Chakra winner Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was badly injured in the battle with the deadly platoon. Grenades were thrown in the company of infiltrators. Killed him with a rifle. After killing four infiltrators, the second attacker was also killed with an automatic gun.
Battle of Point 4875…
The Kargil war was now in its final stages. After hoisting the tricolor on Tiger Hill, the next target was Point 4875. This is a peak in the Muskoh Valley. Actually, there are many dangerous peaks here. But from Point 4875, a 30 kilometer long stretch of the National Highway was visible. That means an attack could have been made from any direction from here. This mission was assigned to Brigadier Ramesh Kakar of 79 Mountain Brigade.
Two companies reached the flat top and attacked the enemy from different directions. There was rapid firing with the help of medium machine gun. Captain Vikram Batra was in command here. After this, Captain Batra killed five infiltrators in hand-to-hand combat. But he himself was martyred. For which he was posthumously awarded Paramvir Chakra.
Apart from this, small battles also took place at points like Khalubar, Chorbat La, Kukarthang, Jubar. All these peaks are in Batalik sector. Here Major Sonam Wangchuk, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey played important roles. This is where the story of my capture ends. But my braids, stained with the blood of Indian heroes, will always be proud of the fact that if there is an Indian Army, the country is safe.