News Excerpt:
Company Quarter Master Havildar (CQMH) Abdul Hamid laid his life down while fighting Pakistan Army’s Patton tanks in the Battle of Asal Uttar — one of the largest tank battles fought during the 1965 India-Pakistan War.
- Hamid was awarded Param Vir Chakra — India’s highest gallantry award — posthumously.
About the Battle of Asal Uttar:
- Located in Punjab, Asal Uttar is near the India-Pakistan border, about seven kilometers from Khem Karan.
- In September 1965, Pakistan's 1 Armoured Division launched an attack, crossing the border to capture parts of Khem Karan.
- Their objective was to seize the Beas River bridge, effectively isolating large regions of Punjab, including Amritsar, from the rest of India.
- The offensive caught India's 4th Mountain Division off guard, forcing them to retreat. However, the situation improved rapidly after Western Army Commander Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh visited the division's headquarters.
- He recommended a strong defense at the Asal Uttar road junction and relocated the 2nd Armoured Brigade to the area to counter the Pakistani armoured assault.
- The battle occurred from September 8 to September 10, ending in the destruction of Pakistan's offensive.
- The Pakistan Army lost 97 Patton tanks, and an entire Pakistani armoured regiment, including its commanding officer, surrendered to the Indian Army.
- Despite this, Khem Karan remained under Pakistani control until a ceasefire was declared, after which it was returned to India in exchange for Indian-held areas in Pakistan.
What was Hamid’s contribution?
- At the time, Hamid was serving with the 4th Grenadiers Battalion of the Indian Army.
- He was deployed on the outskirts of Chima village, located on the Amritsar-Khem Karan road.
- On September 10, Hamid found four Pakistani Patton tanks and fired at them from near point-blank range. When three of the tanks were destroyed, one was disabled. In doing so, Hamid came under fire from another Pakistani tank and lost his life.
- For his bravery, Hamid was later awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
