INFANTRY, it is said, is the last 100 yards of a nation’s foreign policy, necessarily executed by the foot soldier. So it was in most instances in the 1971 war, too. Where 15 Rajput with other Units was called upon to deliver Indian foreign policy near Fazilka (Punjab). In order to stop the advance of the enemy, Indian Army launched the counter offensive with 15 Rajput along with 4 Jat and 3 Assam battalions.
Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh of 15 Rajput was among them. He would deliver the infantryman’s foreign policy. He as the head of a section 15 Rajput, not at the Beriwala bridge, but at the Ghazi post, on a flank that was in support of the Pakistanis, as his MVC citation describes:
“Even after the capture of the objective by the battalion, two enemy medium machine guns in pillboxes were still interfering with the reorganisation and inflicting casualties on our troops. Realising the importance of silencing these guns, Lance Naik DP Singh took two other ranks with him and with utter disregard for his life and safety, crawled up to the first bunker and silenced the medium machine gun by lobbing a grenade. He then started crawling to the next bunker but in the process received a burst from the machine gun on his left shoulder. Although bleeding profusely, he crawled to within 6 feet of the second bunker and was about to lob a grenade when he received a second burst of automatic fire in his chest, killing him on the spot. His daring act, however, forced the enemy to abandon the second bunker, leaving behind the machine gun and a large quantity of ammunition.”
In this action, Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh was awarded "Maha Vir Chakra", posthumously. He displayed outstanding courage and determination and made the supreme sacrifice in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh Rathore, MVC(P) hailed from Rajput Family of Naugma village in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Son of Shri Sunder Singh Rathore, he was born on 23 December 1945 and had two brothers as his siblings. Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh joined the Army after completing his schooling on 23 December 1965 at the age of 20 years. He was recruited into the 15 Rajput of the Rajput Regiment, an infantry Regiment well known for its fearless soldiers and various battle honours. By 1971, he had completed around 6 years of service and had taken part in various field operations.
During Operation Cactus Lily in 1971, Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh's unit 15 Rajput got deployed in Fazilka on the western border in Punjab. As war broke out with Pakistan on the 3rd of December, 1971.
Post 04 December, the troops took Counter Penetration positions and continuously engaged the enemy and destroyed his tanks, weapons and equipment and did not allow him to expand his Bridge Head or induct his armour. They had held off an enemy brigade attack supported by armour in the face of intense artillery fire from 03 December till 17 December on the Sabuna Distributary and did not allow the enemy to break out beyond the first obstacle.
Presence of tanks and missile detachments at either side of the breach was perhaps one of the biggest deterrents to the enemy for offensive employment of armour. Successful engagement of a tank by a missile on 07 December established the effectiveness of the weapon system and forced sufficient caution on the enemy’s mind. Had there been no presence of tanks and ATGMs at Sabuna, the enemy could have gone in for a bolder employment option and used the tanks for expansion of the breach. If he had been successful, history would have been very different.
Unfortunately, all Indian counterattacks failed miserably as troops were committed piecemeal from the expected direction and over ground having a funnelling effect on the assaulting troops. These unimaginative attacks resulted in inordinately heavy casualties and eroded morale. Amidst all this, what stood out was the determination, courage and bravery of the junior leaders and men.
One such action, lead by Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh, commanding his section led the Rajputs attack on the Ghazi post The battle for the post was one of the most horrific in the Fazilka sector, as the 15 Rajput was suffering heavy casualties in the fight. The fight turned out to be very challenging with Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh and his comrades resorting to hand to hand combat. As the operation was underway, Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh noticed that 2 enemy MMGs were still raining down a massive amount of fire on 15 Rajput soldiers. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh decided that the MMGs had to be silenced at any cost.
Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh took two other ranks with him and with utter disregard for his life and safety crawled 200 yards up to the first bunker and silenced the Medium Machine Gun by lobbing a grenade . He then started crawling to the next bunker but, in the process received a burst from the machine gun on his left shoulder. Although bleeding profusely, he crawled to within six feet of the second bunker and was about to lob a grenade when he received a second burst of automatic fire on his chest which proved fatal for him, and on December 13th 1971. Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh a valiant and committed soldier laid down his life in the line of his duty.
But his daring act, however, forced the enemy to abandon the second bunker, leaving behind the machine gun and a large quantity of ammunition.
15 Rajput had captured the Gazi post complex of Pakistan defences in the north, taking a platoon’s worth of prisoners and plenty of equipment, including one Sherman tank in running condition.
His bust adorns a War Heroes’ Memorial at Asafwala in Fazilka district, where the remains of more than 80 other Indian soldiers that were found after the war are interred.
Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh was given the nation's 2nd highest gallantry award, "Maha Vir Chakra" for his outstanding courage, determination and supreme sacrifice.
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