In my previous article ‘50 Glorious Years of the Naga Regiment’ published last week, I dwelled on the historical 16 Point Agreement between the Naga People’s Convention and the Government of India, which led to creation of the State of Nagaland in 1963 and later raising of the Naga Regiment on 01 Nov 1970. The relevant aspects of the agreement were also incorporated in the Constitution vide Article 371 A. This was also a unique occasion in the history of the Indian Army because it was for the first time that an Infantry Regiment had been raised as outcome of a political settlement. This milestone could be made possible due to genuine love and concern of Jawahar Lal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi for the Tribal society.
After the 1st Battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised on 01 Nov 1970 the recruitment of the personnel was completed by Apr 1971. The Training of the new battalion commenced in all earnestness at the Kumaon Regimental Centre, Ranikhet. The Regiment was new but the Nagas have a rich tradition of valour and fighting. The Assam Regiment and Assam Rifles have recruited Nagas in large numbers in the past and found them easily adaptable to the regimental life. The tough Naga recruits soon established a reputation for themselves by winning various inter-company competitions for the Commandant’s Banner.One of the Naga boy, Recruit Kap Mao had the distinction of being adjudged the Best Recruit. In May 1971 Mr Hokishe Sema CM of Nagaland, who had played a stellar role in the formation of the Naga Regiment, paid a visit to the Regiment at Ranikhet.
In the sub-continent there were disturbed conditions due to turmoil in erstwhile East Pakistan(now BanglaDesh) over issue of non-transfer of power to Awami League which had secured an electoral victory. Pakistan Army had cracked down on the civil population due to which lakhs of refugees had taken shelter in India straining our economy. War clouds started hovering and preparations began for a war in support of the Bangladeshis. During this period, training of 1 NAGA was in progress but due to imminent hostilities it was curtailed and by middle Aug 1971 the battalion received orders for move and itstaged forward to Gaya in Bihar.
The unit did not stayat Gaya for long and was again relocated and by 20 Oct 1971 it was concentrated at Behrampore in Midnapore District ,West Bengal and placed under 4 Infantry Division, which was part of 2 Corps. Two companies of the Battalion were further tasked to reinforce the Border Security Force Posts near Lalgola and Kazipara, near the head of the Ganges Delta in West Bengal along the East Pakistan Border. Incidentally Maj Gen TN Raina, MVC was promoted as Lieut General andtasked to raise 2 Corps and was assigned the Western Sector. The Pakistan Army deployed on the border wasactive to gain intelligence on deployment, movements and likely intentions of Indian Army offensive and was also to conduct sabotage on Indian side of the Border. However the professionalism and alertness of the Nagas led to capture of many Enemy Agents together with recovery of large quantity of mines and explosives.
In early November, 1 NAGA were given a new and an independent task. They were moved further South to Shikarpur in Nadia district and ordered to guard against a possible Pakistani preemptive along Bheramara- Shikarpur axis as it provided the shortest approach to Behrampore on the national highway. Two companies of BSF and a Mountain Battery were placed under their command. On 12 Nov 1971, two Pakistani Companies walked into a well-laid ambush of the wily Nagas. The Pakistanis did their best to break the Ambush but instead suffered heavy casualties. The Company Commander Maj(later Brig) Ian da Costa handled the Ambush deftly and broke contact with the enemy while inflicting heavy casualties with Medium Machine Guns, Mors and Artillery. This was the first action for the Naga Regiment too and what its men achieved that day was no mean achievement for a newly raised unit. While the Pakistanis suffered heavy casualties,1 NAGA lost four killed, five wounded and six captured as they had run out of ammunition after fighting valiantly. In view of this successful operation the battalion personnel were conferred gallantry awards of one Vir Chakra and two Sena Medals
1 NAGA next participated in a deception plan of 2 Corps of the Indian Army. The plan was to confuse the enemy and make it guess where the blow will be delivered by the Indian Army. The Corps CommanderLieut General TN Raina, MVC wanted the Pakistanis to tie down their troops on the Shikarpur- Bheramara Axis. Accordingly the Nagas occupied numerous positions, simulated heavy movement of vehicles and conducted patrolling over a large area to simulate an offensive, in order to deceive the Pakistanis. Dummy tanks were positioned, Trucks without silencers to create tank noise and guns and mortars were moved and frequently redeployed. The deception plan was successfully executed as the 2 Corps offensive faced less resistance.
As explained earlier 1 NAGA was part of 4 Infantry Division which was under 2 Corps. Initially the brigade of which 1 NAGA was part of was placed as 2 Corps reserves. However on 05 Dec 71, 1 NAGA was tasked to Attack alongwith 5 JAT at Meharpurbut the enemy abandoned its position without a fight thus depriving the battalion an opportunity of active combat. On 09 Dec 1971 1NAGA was again reverted under HQ 2Corps. The Enemy had cleared out of the Area opposite Shikarpur as such the regiment was tasked to clear it of mines and booby traps. The battalion also constructed a Class 9 vehicular bridge on the Mathabhanga River from salvaged Pakistani material.
On 14 Dec 1 NAGA once again rejoined 4 Mountain Division and were tasked to secure the West Bank of Madhumati River in East Pakistan for the Divisional Attack on the East Bank.Alfa and Charlie Companies neutralised the enemy localities on the flanks of the offensive whereas Bravo Company held the West Bank doggedly under heavy enemy shelling. The enemy on East bank tried to break out but was surrounded by the assaulting Brigades and the enemy finally surrendered on 15 Dec 71. The war came to an end after fall of Dacca on 17 Dec when India announced cessation of hostilities. The personnel of 1 NAGA were awarded one Vir Chakra and three Sena Medals for acts of gallantry during the entire war.
After the war the battalion was initially located at Jhansi and later at Lansdowne where it carried out training and won laurels in various competitions. After the peace tenures 1 NAGA moved for operational deployment to Akhnoor in J&K. In 1977 the battalion moved to Dehradun and in recognition of its achievements was presented with the coveted ‘Colours’ on 6 May 1978 by Shri NeelamSanjiva Reddy, the President of India. Gen TN Raina, MVC the Chief of the Army Staff and Colonel of the Kumaon and Naga Regiments also graced the occasion.
The Naga soldiers were inducted into the war straight from the drill square, with the ‘Kasam’ (Oath of allegiance) administered during Attestation Parade still fresh on their lips. The youngest Regiment joined the vanguard of the Indian Army proving that they were no novice when it came to the Art of Warfare. In some fierce encounters during the war they proved their mettle,as tough recruits belonging to the various clans from Nagaland and Manipur and transformed into trained soldiers they performed with discipline and training as of their counterparts in the other senior regiments.
Colonel Prakash Bhatt(Retd)
Noida
(The Author is a recipient of Gallantry Award of “Mention-in-Dispatches’ during Op PAWAN(IPKF). He is a former Deputy Commandant of the Kumaon Regimental Centre and Additional DIG in Assam Rifles, NagalandRange (North) and hasserved extensivelyin various parts of Nagaland)
