Rifleman Gir Bahadur Chhetri

In 1971, Rifleman Gir Bahadur Chhetri was serving with 1st Battalion, 9th Gorkha Rifles (1/9 GR), which was deployed in the Punjab sector. By December 1971, the Punjab sector had considerable strategic importance for India. The area stretching from Gurdaspur to the Grand Trunk Road opposite Amritsar was particularly sensitive, as any Pakistani offensive in this sector could threaten important towns and communication routes leading into the Indian heartland. The defence of this sector was entrusted to 15 Infantry Division, commanded during the 1971 Indo-Pak War by Major General BM Bhattacharjee. The division formed part of XI Corps, whose responsibility extended across a large portion of the Punjab frontier. Within 15 Infantry Division, 86 Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Krishnaswamy Gowri Shankar, was responsible for the strategically important Dera Baba Nanak sector. The brigade had under its command 10 Dogra, 1st Battalion, 9th Gorkha Rifles (1/9 GR), 4/8 Gorkha Rifles and 17 Rajput, supported by armour, artillery and other elements. The task of the brigade was to eliminate the Pakistani enclave south of the Ravi River and thereby remove a potential avenue of attack into Punjab.

It was in this formation and at this critical stage of the war that Rifleman Bir Bahadur Chhetri of 1/9 Gorkha Rifles was serving. The battalion was part of a distinguished Gorkha regiment and brought to the operation the discipline, battlefield experience and fighting spirit for which Gorkha soldiers are renowned. The Pakistani position at Dera Baba Nanak was a formidable defensive enclave south of the Ravi. Its defences were organised around a series of bunds, including the Depth, Rail, Road, River and Dussi Bunds, and were strengthened with pillboxes, bunkers, mines, barbed wire, machine-gun positions and anti-tank weapons. The position was therefore not merely a border outpost but a well-prepared defensive system guarding the approaches to the Ravi crossing. Brigadier Gowri Shankar planned a carefully coordinated operation using infantry, armour and artillery. The attack was to be conducted in phases. 10 Dogra, supported by elements of 71 Armoured Regiment, was tasked to approach from the east and capture the Depth, Road and River Bunds. 1/9 Gorkha Rifles was assigned the important task of capturing the Dussi Bund, while 17 Rajput, supported by armour and BSF elements, was to clear the remaining enemy positions.

The operation commenced during the night of 5/6 December 1971. The advance of 10 Dogra and the accompanying armour encountered considerable difficulties, including dense vegetation and problems in negotiating the river. Recognising that the progress of the first phase was slower than planned, Brigadier Gowri Shankar altered the sequence of the operation and ordered 1/9 Gorkha Rifles to move into the attack earlier than originally scheduled. This timely decision demonstrated the importance of battlefield initiative and adaptability. The Gorkhas advanced towards the Dussi Bund, fighting their way through a series of well-prepared enemy positions. The assault involved close-quarter combat against fortified pillboxes and bunkers. The troops employed pole charges, grenades, Molotov cocktails and the traditional khukri in clearing the enemy defences. Despite determined resistance, the Gorkhas pressed forward and captured their objective. The success of 1/9 Gorkha Rifles was an important part of the overall operation. By the morning of 6 December, the Pakistani enclave had been effectively neutralised and the immediate threat to this part of Punjab removed. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated action between infantry, armour and artillery and also highlighted the courage and determination of the troops who fought through heavily defended positions. The 1/9 Gorkha Rifles was subsequently awarded the Battle Honour “Dera Baba Nanak” and the Theatre Honour “Punjab” for its role in the 1971 war. During the entire operation, a total of 12 soldiers of 1/9 Gorkha Rifles made the supreme sacrifice. Of these, four soldiers, including Rifleman Gir Bahadur Chhetri, laid down their lives in the line of duty on 4 December 1971, while the remaining eight made the supreme sacrifice on subsequent dates during the operations.

He was survived by his wife, Smt Umadevi Chhetri, and their only son, who was barely one and a half years old at the time of his martyrdom. His young family had to bear the immense loss of a husband and father who had sacrificed his life while serving the nation. Rifleman Gir Bahadur Chhetri will be remembered as a brave and dedicated Gorkha soldier who faced danger with courage and remained committed to his comrades and his duty until the very end.