Page 313 - Leadership in the Indian Army

tactics, and ordered one 3.7-inch howitzer to be deployed forward for the
destruction of sangars on Bedori by direct shooting. While 19 Punjab was
getting ready for the attack, the howitzer picked up one sangar after the

other, and before last light on 28 August, had knocked down most of them.
The attack was launched during the night, and Bedori pass was captured in
the early hours of 29 August. The position was occupied by two companies
of the enemy, supported by five medium machine-guns. However, the
Pakistanis were so shaken by the ferocity of the assault by 19 Punjab that
they did not launch a counter-attack, and left behind a large quantity of
arms and ammunition.

After the loss of Hajipir, the enemy began to bring up fresh troops on to
Ring Contour, a feature about 1,500 yards south–west of the pass. When
Bakshi got wind of this on 29 August, he ordered 1 Para to dislodge the
enemy before it could build up in larger numbers and launch a counter-
attack. The same night, a platoon patrol was sent up from ‘D’ company that
had joined ‘A’ company on the pass. However, the platoon found the task

beyond its capacity. Dayal then set off himself, at about 0730 hrs, with a
platoon of ‘D’ company and Major A.S. Baicher, the company commander.
He told the remainder of ‘D’ company and a platoon of ‘A’ company to
follow, along with the FOO.
The assault involved a descent of about 1,000 and then an ascent to the
same height. It was now broad daylight, and when the enemy saw the
assaulting troops, they reacted violently and opened fire with all weapons,

including artillery. As the platoon was climbing the last 100 feet the firing
intensified. The platoon was composed entirely of ‘Ahirs’ (a sub-caste of
Hindus found in North India, especially in the region around Delhi. They
are simple and hardy folk, mostly engaged in agriculture and dairying, who
worship Krishna). Suddenly, the Ahirs raised their battlecry— Krishan
Maharaj ki Jai (Glory to Lord Krishna)—and then charged. Hand-to-hand

fighting followed, in which nine men were killed and 26 wounded,
including the platoon commander. The enemy lost eight men, and the rest
ran away. During the next three hours, the enemy launched three counter-
attacks, all of which were beaten back. Major Baicher was wounded in the
leg, and Major Dayal had a narrow escape—a machine-gun burst shot off
the sten gun slung on his left shoulder. By 1600 hrs on 30 August the
enemy had given up, and the feature was firmly in Indian hands. Soon

afterwards, 19 Punjab linked up with 1 Para, and the entire area between