Battle of Ichogil Bund

Battle of Ichogil Bund
Part of the Lahore Front

Pakistani Soldier engaging with Indian Army on BRB Canal
Date22–23 September 1965
(1 day)
Location
Ichogil Canal
Result Pakistani Victory[1][2]
Belligerents
 India  Pakistan
Units involved
9th Battalion, Madras Regiment Unknown
Strength
800-900
(1 battalion)		 150-250
(2 companies)
Casualties and losses
Indian claims:
27[3]–49 dead[4]
65 wounded[4]		 Indian claims:
48 dead
11 captured and 80 jumped into the canal and washed away.[5][6]

The Battle of Ichogil Bund also known as the Battle of BRB Canal was a skirmish fought from 22 September to 23 September 1965[4][7] as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965[8] by the 9th Battalion Madras Regiment,[4] under the command of Lieutenant Colonel B.K. Satyan.[3][5]

The battle was notable for being fought after the cease-fire had been signed on 22 September. Fighting began around midnight and lasted for about two and a half hours. Accounts differ: between 27 and 49 Indian soldiers died.[4][7][3] Pakistani casualties included 48 dead, 11 captured and 80 jumped into the canal and were washed away (presumably dead).[4]

The Ichogil Canal was constructed by the Pakistanis in the 1950s partly as a defensive obstacle to prevent an invasion of Lahore. At 45 m (148 ft) wide and 5 m (16 ft) deep, it presents a serious obstacle for military forces.[4] Much of the battle was fought from across the canal, with tanks providing fire support to a ground team which had crossed the canal.[9] India declared on 16 September that its soldiers had crossed the BRB Canal and were just six miles from Lahore. The Indian attempts to advance on the Harike-Burki road, according to Pakistan's spokesman, had been thwarted. India attempted thirteen major offensives on this front, all of which Pakistan repelled successfully.[10]

Other battles in the vicinity

Listed north to south

See also

References

  1. ^ Combat Journal. College of Combat. 1987. p. 7.
  2. ^ Hasan, Zubeida (1965). "The Indiapaktstan War— a Summary Account". Pakistan Horizon. 18 (4): 344–356. ISSN 0030-980X. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024 – via JSTOR. September India claimed that its troops had crossêd the BRB Canal and were within six miles of Lahore. However, Pakistan's spokesman denied this claim and said that the Indian attempts to advance on the Harike-Burki road had been foiled. On this front, India launched all-together thirteen major thrusts, which were repulsed by Pakistan.
  3. ^ a b c Service, Tribune News. "Ichhogil battle remembered". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Capt, R.S.G. (2005). Major Defence Operations Since 1947. Ocean Books. ISBN 9788188322671. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b Ramachandran, D. P. (8 September 2015). "The might of the Thambis". The Hindu.
  6. ^ D.P. Ramachandran (2008). Empire's First Soldiers. Lancer Publishers. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-9796174-7-8.
  7. ^ a b Empire's First Soldiers By D.P. Ramachandran, p. 197, Lancer Publishers, 2008
  8. ^ Jamna Das Akhtar (1969). Political Conspiracies in Pakistan. Punjabi Pustak Bhandar. p. 380.
  9. ^ Capt, R.S.G. (2005). Major Defence Operations Since 1947. Ocean Books. ISBN 9788188322671. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  10. ^ Hasan, Zubeida (1965). "The Indiapaktstan War— a Summary Account". Pakistan Horizon. 18 (4): 344–356. ISSN 0030-980X. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024 – via JSTOR. September India claimed that its troops had crossêd the BRB Canal and were within six miles of Lahore. However, Pakistan's spokesman denied this claim and said that the Indian attempts to advance on the Harike-Burki road had been foiled. On this front, India launched all-together thirteen major thrusts, which were repulsed by Pakistan.

31°39′36″N 74°29′06″E / 31.660°N 74.485°E / 31.660; 74.485

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