Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: The 3rd Battalion of the Madras Regiment commemorated Maharajke Day, in remembrance of the brave hearts of the Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice in the operation which began on this day in 1965.
The battalion celebrated the occasion with a wreath laying ceremony at the Samba War Memorial. This event marks the truly heroic sacrifice of the brave soldiers of the Madras Regiment.
The third battalion of the Madras Regiment also known as ‘Thagdas’ under the 69 Mountain Brigade/ 6 Mountain Division was tasked to capture Maharajke Village, that was located 2.5 kilometers from the International Border and 13 miles away from Pakistan’s Sialkot. The battalion was nominated as the left forward battalion in Phase – I of the Brigade attack with 9 KUMAON and 4 MADRAS as the other two battalions attacking in the second Phase. The Thagdas relentlessly maintained the momentum of assault with exemplary courage and captured the Maharajke defences by 0130 hrs on Sept 8, 1965. A counter attack of the enemy with tanks was successfully repulsed. Subsequently, till 24 Sep 1965, Battalion captured many other enemy localities.
During the war, the Thagdas accounted for 10 Mujahids as Prisoners of War, captured 16 Rifles, 04 Small Machine Guns and a huge cache of ammunition and vehicles. In the entire operation, seven Thagdas including one officer, Maj Piyush Chowdhury, made the supreme sacrifice and 38 were wounded. For these gallant actions, the Battalion was conferred with THEATRE HONOUR ‘PUNJAB’.
A War Memorial stands tall at Samba, a proud reminder of the sacrifices made by our soldiers in 1965 Indo Pak War. To express gratitude to soldiers for their selfless services, a Cycle expedition is being undertaken by citizens of Jammu and personnel of the unit, with the support of Samba Army Garrison.
The event is being planned by 3 MADRAS Regiment, NCCHWO and Jammu Hills Sports Club. The saga of valour and sacrifices will be recited to inspire the youth.
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