https://sputniknews.in/20231216/how-unarmed-indian-army-officer-rescued-sheikh-hasina-from-pakistani-captivity-5848195.html
Meet Indian Army Officer Who Rescued Sheikh Hasina From Pakistani Captivity Unarmed
Meet Indian Army Officer Who Rescued Sheikh Hasina From Pakistani Captivity Unarmed
Sputnik India
Every year on 16 December, India commemorates Vijay Diwas to mark the anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, which resulted in the formation of an independent sovereign state of Bangladesh.
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With India marking the anniversary of its dominant military triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 war on 16 December, an Indian Army veteran recalled one of the most telling stories of its military operation - the daring rescue operation of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, including current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, from Pakistani captivity at the time.Colonel Ashok Kumar Tara, who back then was a major in the Indian Army, was conferred with the military honor, Vir Chakra, for his contribution to the 1971 war.Recalling the incidents of 1971, Tara told Sputnik India that he had been involved with the Bangladesh Liberation War since March 1971 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared it a liberated country.However, the war officially began on 3 December 1971 following Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) pre-dawn strikes on multiple Indian airbases as the then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a full-scale invasion of the neighboring country.Teamwork Powered India to VictoryThe Pakistan Army eventually proved no match to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) as New Delhi annihilated Islamabad, leading to the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops during the 13-day war which concluded on 16 December with India's emphatic victory.Besides, the 1971 war veteran pointed out that one should not forget the role of the Mukti Bahini (the Bangladeshi guerrilla resistance movement) and the locals, who helped the Indian Army throughout the operation.According to him, if it wasn't for their assistance the battle could have lasted much longer and resulted in far more Indian casualties than it did.Tara emphasized that though the war was over on 16 December when the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian and the Bangladesh Army, the message of their surrender didn't reach the outposts because of a lack of communication.He noted that on the evening of 16 December 1971, when the Indian Army personnel were enjoying their victory over Pakistan, a message came from New Delhi to secure the Dhaka airport as a lot of VIP movement was expected there.Mukti Bahini Informs Indian Army About Danger to Bangladesh's Founder, His FamilyRealizing the gravity of the situation, Lt. Colonel Channa asked him to leave immediately for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house alongside the Mukti Bahini member and take the necessary action.Tara took two soldiers with him and moved towards Dhanmondi, the residence of the Rahman family. When he arrived there, hundreds of people surrounded the house, including media persons and Mukti Bahini forces.Pakistani Forces Kill a Journalist Attempting to Get Inside Rahman's Home The people associated with the Mukti Bahini told him that the Pakistanis were firing at everyone who advanced toward the house before showing him a car riddled with bullets with a dead body lying inside it.They said to Tara that he was a journalist who wanted to go inside Mujibur Rahman's home but was shot at by the Pakistani soldiers, who were holding the Bangladesh leader and his family captive.Knowing this, he waited for some time but after assessing that the situation could turn ugly if he did not take control soon, Tara and two soldiers he had with him, decided to win over the Pakistani troops through psychological warfare.Indian Army Officer Gets Unarmed, Starts Conversation With Pakistani TroopsIn response, he informed them that he was an officer of the Indian Army, and the Pakistani Army had already surrendered in war, so they should surrender too.Hearing this news, they replied that the Pakistani Army hadn't surrendered. But Tara repeatedly told them that it had indeed happened and any delay on their part could result in an operation against them.Pakistani Soldiers Threaten Indian MajorBut he told them that if they killed him, then the troops of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini would kill all of them, and the families that are waiting for them in Pakistan would not be able to see them again.Moments after, an Indian helicopter flew over them. Immediately, Tara questioned them whether they had ever seen an Indian helicopter in Dhaka.This calmed down the situation but suddenly someone from inside the house shouted, 'Don't believe them, they can fire at people anytime', Tara stated.Indian Army Officer Wins Over Pakistani GuardsWhen he was talking to them, the rifle of the sentry at the house's gate was touching his body. He observed that the young man was shivering and could have pulled the trigger at any moment. Realizing this he moved the rifle away from his body but kept talking to the commander.Again he urged them to surrender, assuring them of their safety, and this time, they finally chose to put their arms down and agreed to surrender.This whole conversation went on for nearly 30 minutes. But subsequently, the Pakistani soldiers, including their commander came down, leaving their weapons inside the house.Sheikh Hasina, Family Members Celebrate Victory With 'Joy Bangla' ChantsAfter that, Sheikh Hasina handed over the Bangladesh national flag to her father, who gave it to Tara and asked him to hoist it on top of the house, which he did without any delay.
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Meet Indian Army Officer Who Rescued Sheikh Hasina From Pakistani Captivity Unarmed
12:49 16.12.2023 (Updated: 10:56 22.12.2023) Every year on 16 December, India commemorates Vijay Diwas to mark the anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, which resulted in the formation of an independent sovereign state of Bangladesh.
With India marking the anniversary of its dominant military triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 war on 16 December, an Indian Army veteran recalled one of the most telling stories of its military operation - the daring rescue operation of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, including current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, from Pakistani captivity at the time.
Colonel Ashok Kumar Tara, who back then was a major in the Indian Army, was conferred with the military honor,
Vir Chakra, for his
contribution to the 1971 war.
Recalling the incidents of 1971, Tara told Sputnik India that he had been involved with the Bangladesh Liberation War since March 1971 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared it a liberated country.
However, the war officially began on 3 December 1971 following Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) pre-dawn strikes on multiple Indian airbases as the then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a full-scale invasion of the neighboring country.
Teamwork Powered India to Victory
The Pakistan Army eventually proved no match to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) as New Delhi annihilated Islamabad, leading to the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops during the 13-day war which concluded on 16 December with India's emphatic victory.
"The IAF dominated the Pakistani troops because there was total teamwork - Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played her role to perfection at the international level, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the Indian Army chief at the time, was outstanding with his strategic deployment of troops, while the senior officers were apt at playing the psychological warfare," Tara opined.
Besides, the 1971 war veteran pointed out that one should not forget the role of the Mukti Bahini (the Bangladeshi guerrilla resistance movement) and the locals, who helped the Indian Army throughout the operation.
According to him, if it wasn't for their assistance the battle could have lasted much longer and resulted in far more Indian casualties than it did.
Tara emphasized that though the war was over on 16 December when the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian and the Bangladesh Army,
the message of their surrender didn't reach the outposts because of a
lack of communication.
He noted that on the evening of 16 December 1971, when the Indian Army personnel were enjoying their victory over Pakistan, a message came from New Delhi to secure the Dhaka airport as a lot of VIP movement was expected there.
Mukti Bahini Informs Indian Army About Danger to Bangladesh's Founder, His Family
"The following day, I was deploying the troops along the Dhaka airport to secure it. However, at 9 am, my commanding officer, Lt. Colonel V.N. Channa, called me and took me to a Mukti Bahini soldier, who informed us that the family of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was still under the captivity of Pakistani Forces and their lives were under danger," Tara revealed.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lt. Colonel Channa asked him to leave immediately for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house alongside the Mukti Bahini member and take the necessary action.
Tara took two soldiers with him and moved towards
Dhanmondi, the residence of the Rahman family. When he arrived there, hundreds of people
surrounded the house, including media persons and Mukti Bahini forces.
Pakistani Forces Kill a Journalist Attempting to Get Inside Rahman's Home
The people associated with the Mukti Bahini told him that the Pakistanis were firing at everyone who advanced toward the house before showing him a car riddled with bullets with a dead body lying inside it.
They said to Tara that he was a journalist who wanted to go inside Mujibur Rahman's home but was shot at by the Pakistani soldiers, who were holding the Bangladesh leader and his family captive.
Knowing this, he waited for some time but after assessing that the situation could turn ugly if he did not take control soon, Tara and two soldiers he had with him, decided to win over the Pakistani troops through psychological warfare.
Indian Army Officer Gets Unarmed, Starts Conversation With Pakistani Troops
"Therefore, I handed over my weapons to my colleagues and moved in the direction of the house unarmed. As I was in front of the gate of Mujibur Rahman's residence, the Pakistani troops stopped me and told me to go back, and if I did not follow their instructions, they would kill me," Tara said.
In response, he informed them that he was an officer of the Indian Army, and the Pakistani Army had already surrendered in war, so they should surrender too.
Hearing this news, they replied that the Pakistani Army hadn't surrendered. But Tara
repeatedly told them that it had indeed happened and any delay on their part
could result in an operation against them.
Pakistani Soldiers Threaten Indian Major
"At this stage, they threatened me, and the commander of the Pakistani troops in control of Rahman's home asked his men to load their weapons before warning me that they would fire at me if I didn't leave the area," Tara said in a conversation with Sputnik India while remembering the incident.
But he told them that if they killed him, then the troops of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini would kill all of them, and the families that are waiting for them in Pakistan would not be able to see them again.
Moments after, an Indian helicopter flew over them. Immediately, Tara questioned them whether they had ever seen an Indian
helicopter in Dhaka.
"Moreover, I am an Indian Army officer standing unarmed in front of you and you must realize that the Pakistani Army had surrendered the previous day," he affirmed.
This calmed down the situation but suddenly someone from inside the house shouted, 'Don't believe them, they can fire at people anytime', Tara stated.
Indian Army Officer Wins Over Pakistani Guards
When he was talking to them, the rifle of the sentry at the house's gate was touching his body. He observed that the young man was shivering and could have pulled the trigger at any moment. Realizing this he moved the rifle away from his body but kept talking to the commander.
Again he urged them to surrender, assuring them of their safety, and this time, they finally chose to put their arms down and agreed to surrender.
This whole conversation went on for nearly 30 minutes. But subsequently, the Pakistani soldiers, including their commander came down, leaving their weapons inside the house.
Sheikh Hasina, Family Members Celebrate Victory With 'Joy Bangla' Chants
"Finally, as I entered the house, I first saw Mrs Mujibur Rahman, followed by Sheikh Hasina and then Mujibur Rahman himself. After them, Hasina's sister Rehana and brother Russel came out of the house and shouted 'Joy Bangla (victory to Bengal), and one could see the pride in their eyes and expressions for the great victory the Indian and Bangladeshi forces had achieved over Pakistan," Tara shared.
After that, Sheikh Hasina handed over the Bangladesh national flag to her father, who gave it to Tara and asked him to hoist it on top of the house, which he did without any delay.
