DRASS: As the country celebrates two decades of its victory in the Kargil conflict, there is ambiguity about a contentious area known as Point-5353 - one of the highest and strategic peaks near Line of Control in Drass sector of Jammu & Kashmir.
The top Army commanders who led the Indian response 20 years ago have claimed that Point-5353 was occupied by the Pakistan army prior to the Kargil conflict and that the Indian Army never attempted to capture it in 1999.
However, the Kargil war despatches, accessed by TOI, have indicated that the Army had made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the important geographical feature.
The despatches, exchanged regarding military operations, have revealed that a team led by Major Navneet Mehta of 16-Granadiers had tried to capture Point-5353. The post was used as an artillery observation post by Pakistan troops.
Col Puspinder Oberoi, the then commanding officer of 16 Granadiers regiment, in a communication to his superiors during the war, said: "Two attacks were made by troops of my battalion on Point-5353. Maj Navneet Mehta and 30 men carried out attack."
The top Army commanders who led the Indian response 20 years ago have claimed that Point-5353 was occupied by the Pakistan army prior to the Kargil conflict and that the Indian Army never attempted to capture it in 1999.
However, the Kargil war despatches, accessed by TOI, have indicated that the Army had made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the important geographical feature.
The despatches, exchanged regarding military operations, have revealed that a team led by Major Navneet Mehta of 16-Granadiers had tried to capture Point-5353. The post was used as an artillery observation post by Pakistan troops.
Col Puspinder Oberoi, the then commanding officer of 16 Granadiers regiment, in a communication to his superiors during the war, said: "Two attacks were made by troops of my battalion on Point-5353. Maj Navneet Mehta and 30 men carried out attack."
"We reached the base of the cliff and tried to go up... We ended up having 13 casualties …The attacking column developed chest congestion … along with wounds due to continuous attempts. Thus, the attack had to be called off...," says the communication sent by Mehta to his commanding officer.
When TOI contacted General VP Malik, who led the Kargil war, he claimed: "The LoC in this area was drawn in 1972 by joining several heights (points) with straight lines. The line went over Point-535 ..
When TOI contacted General VP Malik, who led the Kargil war, he claimed: "The LoC in this area was drawn in 1972 by joining several heights (points) with straight lines. The line went over Point-535 ..
source:economictimesindiatimes
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