Page 361 - Leadership in the Indian Army

After reaching Mukhwal, Hanut deployed the company of 18 Rajputana
Rifles on the high ground ahead of the village, with their armoured
personnel carriers (APCs) in close support. The armour was held in reserve,

hidden from view in the village itself. The plan was that when the enemy
launched their attack, the infantry would mount their APCs and withdraw
towards Mukhwal, firing their machine-guns. Once the enemy assumed that
they had captured the area and began to reorganise, the tanks and APCs
would mount a combined assault. Shortly after the deployment had been
completed, the enemy started shelling the area, and Hanut thought that they
were just registering targets before launching the attack. However, the

infantry and armour waited in vain. The enemy did not attack, causing all-
round disappointment.
While the operations of 54 Infantry Division had progressed well, 39
Infantry Division had not been able to capture Dehlra. Major General
W.A.G. Pinto, GOC 54 Infantry Division, realised that unless the Dehlra–
Chakra complex was cleared, his own operations would not progress. He

therefore decided to clear it using his own troops, and alloted the task to
Brigadier Ujagar Singh, Commander 74 Infantry Brigade, who was given a
squadron ex-4 Horse for this purpose. This was completed by first light on
11 December. Pinto now ordered Brigadier A. Handoo, Commander 91
Infantry Brigade, to establish a bridgehead across the Barkaniyan minefield.
17 Horse was placed under command 91 Infantry Brigade for this
operation, with the further tasks of breaking out from the bridgehead,

contacting the enemy positions along the Basantar nullah , and if
opportunity offered, establishing an encounter crossing across the Basantar.
The regiment moved forward from Mukhwal and concentrated at Tarakwal
by 1400 hrs on 12 December. 18 Rajputana Rifles less two companies,
mounted on APCs, was placed under command 17 Horse for the encounter
crossing, in addition to an Engineer taskforce with trawl and bridge layer

tanks.
Hanut planned to carry out the encounter crossing under cover of
darkness, as soon as the bridgehead across the minefied had been
established by 91 Infantry Brigade. However, Commander 91 Infantry
Brigade did not permit this, since he was worried about his own security.
Hanut knew that the Basantar would be heavily defended, and a daylight
encounter crossing would not succeed. Finally, it was agreed that a

squadron of 4 Horse would take over the defence of the bridgehead,