Page 282 - Leadership in the Indian Army

accompanied by a photographer who kept taking pictures. However, there
was no confrontation and the ‘walk’ ended peacefully.
Sagat then sought Aurora’s permission to mark the crestline along which

he had walked. He ordered a double wire fence to be erected from Nathu La
towards the North and South Shoulders. However, as soon as work on the
fence began on 20 August 1967, the Chinese became agitated and asked the
Indians to stop. One strand of wire was laid that day, and two more were
added over the next two days. On 6 September, a patrol of 2 Grenadiers, the
battalion holding the defences at Nathu La, was going towards the South
Shoulder, when it was surrounded and threatened by about 70 Chinese

soldiers. On the following day the Chinese tried to physically obstruct the
construction of the fence, which resulted in a scuffle. However, work
continued over the next two days and was almost finished by 10 September.
Since the Chinese appeared determined to prevent completion of the
fence, it was decided to start early on 11 September, and finish the job
before first light. All available manpower, including a platoon each of

Engineers and Pioneers, was deployed for the task. A company of 18 Rajput
was also brought in to reinforce the position and protect the men working
on the fence. As soon as they started the Chinese tried to stop them. There
followed a heated discussion between the Chinese commander, who was
accompanied by the political commissar, and Lieutenant Colonel Rai Singh,
CO 2 Grenadiers. Having foreseen this eventuality, Sagat had warned Rai
Singh not to expose himself, but remain in his bunker with the Brigade

Commander, Brigadier M.M.S. Bakshi. But Singh ignored the warning and
came out into the open to stand face-to-face with the Chinese officers.
Tempers rose and the arguments became more heated, but both sides stood
their ground. Then suddenly the Chinese opened fire on the troops working
on the wire fence. Among the many casualties was Lieutenant Colonel Rai
Singh.

Seeing their CO fall, the Grenadiers were enraged. In a fit of fury, they
came out of their trenches and, led by Captain P.S. Dagar, attacked the
Chinese post. The company of 18 Rajput under Major Harbhajan Singh and
the Engineers working on the fence had also suffered a few casualties.
Realising that the only way to neutralise the Chinese was by physical
assault, Harbhajan shouted to his men and led them in a charge on the
Chinese position. Several of the Indian troops were mowed down by

Chinese machine-guns, but those who reached the Chinese bunkers used