Jaisalmer:
As the tension between India and Pakistan has increased after the deadly Pahgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, people remember the sacrifice of an Indian soldier Poonam Singh, who managed to capture 60 Pakistani Rangers during the 1965 war, refused to reach the checkpost of Bhutwala border.
The Indian side has a Bhutaval Chowk in Rajasthan a few kilometers from the Indo-Pak border, which is a silent post, which saw a heroic stance by Poonam Singh during the 1965 war. When the post was attacked by more than 60 Pakistani Rangers at night under the leadership of Pakistani commander Afzal Khan, Poonam Singh Bhati, seven other soldiers fought with determination despite being dismissed, but still unpublished.
However, during the fight, Indian soldiers faced a crunch of ammunition, according to legend, Singh crossed the enemy lines to recover the cartridges from the Pakistani camp and returned to continue the fight.
By the end of the night, Singh closed the commander, Afzal Khan with 8 other Pakistani Rangers, before laying his life in the line of duty.
The remaining enemies had fled and Bhuttewala checkposts remained within Indian control. In memory of Poonam Singh, a memorial was built in the checkpost, where it still stands today, remembering his sacrifice. In the memorial, anyone can see a picture of a lion, as well as gives information about the history of the checkpost with a small fraction.
According to the fraction written there, a checkpost was established to keep a check on the operation of smuggling and an infiltration in Rajasthan. Bhuttaval-Sultana-Jaisalmar was the main smuggling route.
“Prior to independence, Pakistan’s Sindh province was an important trade market in Western Rajasthan. At that time, the State Police Force was responsible for keeping an investigation on illegal smuggling and infiltration in Rajasthan. Bhutaval-Sultana-Jaisalmer was the main trafficking route.
“Bhuttwellla has a small village of 15 to 20 houses, and some of the rural smuggling activities. These people actively supported Pakistan during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. The check post was damaged by Pak forces, but constable Poonam Singh Bhati competed against the Pak forces.”
The Indo-Pak war of 1965 lasted for more than a month from August 5, 1965 to September 23, 1965. It is estimated that thousands of people were killed during that period.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
