Battle of Sylhet
Siege of Sylhet | |||||||
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Part of Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Mukti Bahini India | Pakistan | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lt.col. Ziaur Rahman Brig. C. A. “Bunty” Quinn Brig. Raja C. V. Apte Brig. M. B. Wadke Brig. Kulwant Singh Gp Capt Chandan Singh |
Brig. Muhammad Saleemullah Chohan Brig. Iftikhar Rana | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
IV Corps: 8 Mountain Division 59 Mountain Brigade 81 Mountain Brigade Echo Sector BSF Sector 1 East Bengal Rifles |
202 Infantry Brigade 313 Infantry Brigade |
The Battle of Sylhet (Bengali: সিলেটের যুদ্ধ Silet-er Juddho) was a major battle fought between the advancing Mitro Bahini and the Pakistani defences at Sylhet during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The battle took place 7 December and 15 December and was the Indian Army's first heliborne operation.[1] It was a succession of the Battle of Gazipur in Kulaura.
On the first landing in the outskirts of Sylhet, they met 31 Punjab, which promptly ran away, sporting the fear of the Gurkha Khukri from Atgram. Then they took off for Sylhet, and were met by heavy fire on landing. They forced the Gurkhas into a pocket, which they were unable to breach. Evacuations by Mi-4s continued all night, and an Alouette provided fire support.
But, by then, BBC sent out news that India had landed a 'Brigade', which incited fear in the enemy Garrison, whereas only a battalion was landed in Sylhet. This forced the Gorkhas to impersonate a Brigade. The continuing evacs at night convinced the enemy that the Gurkhas were being constantly reinforced.
Then, the whole enemy garrison of 8000 men surrendered to Brigade Commander 'Bunty' Quinn.
See also[]
- Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Mitro Bahini order of battle
- Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
- Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan
- 1971 Bangladesh genocide
- Operation Searchlight
- Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
- Meghna Heli Bridge
References[]
- ^ Battle Of Sylhet. Defence India Archived August 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Bangladesh Liberation War
- Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars
- 1971 in Bangladesh
- 1971 in India
- 1971 in Pakistan
- December 1971 events in Asia
- History of Bangladesh
- History of Sylhet
- Battle stubs