Big gains in western front
New Delhi Dec. 6.-Indian troops launched several probing attacks .on enemy defences in the Jammu, Pathankot and Amritsar sectors today. In the Rajasthan sector they were in occupation of a 1,000 sq. km. area inside Sind, according to official sources here, report agencies.
Among the places taken in Sind in the Barmer sector during the day’s action were Pirani-Ka-Par and Kelnor, about 15 kms inside enemy territory. A large quantity of arms was seized and many were taken prisoner.
Tjhe Pakistani column retreating from Longewala in the Barmer area which had been turned yesterday into a graveyard of Pakistani tanks, was attacked by the Indian Air force planes today.
Naya Chhor, an important town in Tharparkar district in Sind, fell to the advancing Indian troops.
In the Rann of Kutch, scene of shelling by Pakistani troops since the fighting began. Indian forces captured the Chad bet post.
Jammu and Kashmir was the main ground for the enemy thrust today, but all the attacks including those of armoured and artillery were repulsed and guns silenced at several points all along the border.
A Western Command Spokesman said in Jullunder that the highlight was a major tank battle in the Chhamb sector in which the Indian ground forces, ably supported by air cover, knocked out 23 Pakistani tanks. A battalion commander of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s regiment was captured with his second-in-command, a major.
Despite an air attack yesterday on our formations in the Chhamb sector supported by a division and three battalions of armour, the Indian troops left the enemy bleeding after the battle. The 23 tanks which were destroyed were all Chinese made T-59.
The spokesman said that the Indian troops advanced into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir territory, while in the Sialkot sector the enemy was held at bay.
Spokesman said Pakistan appeared to be spending up its main strength in its bid to capture Jammu and Kashmir and wondered whether at this rate it would be left with any noteworthy reserves for action later on and elsewhere in the west.
Indian troops advanced upto 9 kms. inside the enemy territory from Kanachack area in Sialkot District four more villages, and Pulbawan town.
Maximum enemy activity, he said, was in this region but it had been effectively denied foothold anywhere.
For the third successive day, the Pakistani artillery had been shelling our posts close to the border. Last night an offensive was launched in Balroi area north of Mendhar river attacking this particular picket for the sixth time in three days.
The IAF, the spokesman said, did a commendable job today in blasting the enemy positions including ammunition dumps in Kahuta on the Haji Pir bulge, which were the source of constant shelling.
In the Chhamb sector, 20 Pakistani soldiers were killed and two junior commissioned officers and 15 other ranks captured. The caputred belonged to 37 Frontier Force Regiment of 104 Infantry Brigade.
Replying to questions, he said there had been no change in the situation at Husainiwala, but the bridge on the Sutle river was in our hands, despite the tactical retreat from one of our posts on the other side of the river two days ago.
The bridge, he confirmed had been damaged due to shelling.
The situation in Fazilka, Khemkaran and other Punjab sectors remained the same, with enemy shelling continuing.
Indian forces have captured the Pakistani villages of Sahjra in the Khemkapran sector and Wadaicheema in the Ajnala sector, Both villages are two miles inside Pak territory.
The spokesman said that in Ferozepur sector, the Sav Ra enclave of Pakistan, south of Khemkaran, was been eliminated by the Indian forces.
In the mountain of Poonch, the enemy has been sending wave after wave of screaming troops in the wake of heavy artillery action only to be beaten back every single time.
Picket 468 has been picked out for special mention by the Western Command nothing that it repulsed as many as six attacks in three days on its location near Balnoi, just north of the river Medhar.
About 200 Pakistani troops were killed and 600 wounded in the battle in this sector until this morning. Indian troops beat back all the attacks.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 07.12.1971