“No sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these bastards!”

Remembering Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, PVC, on his birth aniversary today.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal was born on the 14th of October 1950, to father Brigadier M L Khetrapal and originated from Sargodha, present day Pakistan, from where the family came during the partitions. Brigadier ML Khetrapal was from the Corps of Engineers and had a long family history of serving in the Armed Forces.

Young Khetrapal had his ancestral might running in his veins; hence, after completing his schooling, he joined the National Defence Academy in 1967, after which he joined the Indian Military Academy.

And in June, 1971, Arun Khetrapal was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 17 Poona Horse. The Centurion tanks of the 17 Poona Horse were commanded by the legendary commander—Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh, and Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal was assigned to command one of the Centurions in A Squadron. His Centurion was lovingly named as ‘Famagusta’. With Lieutenant Arun commanding the tank, Sowar Prayag Singh was the tank driver, Sowar Nand Singh being the radio operator and Sowar Nathu Singh being the operator of the main tank gun.

As war broke out with Pakistan on the 3rd of December, 1971, the 17 Poona Horse was placed under the 47 Infantry Brigade, and was soon called into the bloodbath of the Shakargarh sector in the battle of Basantar.

The 47 Infantry Brigade was ordered to capture the Pakistani controlled territory across the Basantar river, establishing a bridgehead for the supporting tanks of the 17 Poona Horse to roll in. On the 15th of December, the Brigade managed to establish a bridgehead for the tanks to roll in, but the area was horribly mined with Pakistani AP and AT mines. Hence, the tanks were still stuck on the other side, and the engineers were brought in to clear out the mines. By 9pm that day, half of the mines were finally cleared out from the area.

But at that time, the boys of the 47 Infantry Brigade were shocked to learn about heavy Pakistani armor rolling in towards their position. They requested for immediate armor support from the 17 Poona Horse and despite of the mines still present on the other side of the river, Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh ordered the Centurions to roll in ASAP!

By the first light of the 16th of December, 1971, the tanks of the 17 Poona Horse managed to reinforce the 47 Infantry Brigade. The pivot of the 17 Poona Horse was at Jarpal, with A Squadron located there.

On the morning of the 16th of December, 1971, at 8am, the rolling in Pakistani armor launched a heavy smokescreen close to Jarpal to cover their advance. A Squadron of the 17 Poona Horse were shocked, yet calm in spotting the heavy 50 ton Pakistani Patton tanks of the 13th Lancers heading their way. Calling in for reinforcements, the Squadron Leader including Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal started blasting their tank guns on the advancing Pattons.

Now, Patton tanks were one of the advanced tanks of its time, and it took time for the Centurions to turn the Pattons into burning blazes of useless steel. The first Pakistani counter-attack was shredded by accurate gunnery and sheer skill and determination of the Indian tank commanders and crewmen. The Pakistanis sent 2 more Patton tank squadrons forward to take down A and B Squadron of the 17 Poona Horse.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal ordered his tank crew of the Famagusta to push head on into the marauding Pakistani tanks. He was followed by 2 more Centurion tanks, the 3 steel beasts started boiling the Pakistanis in their steel coffins. Arun Khetrapal was scoring more kills, but the trio was surprised that even after seeing blazes, the Pakistani tanks weren’t retreating, instead shooting back at them! He was well determined to break in towards B Squadron’s position through all the Pakistani tanks, and this time, he was met with Pakistani RCL gun emplacements and infantry supporting the Pakistani tanks! Yet, he kept blasting Pakistani tanks carried away by his craving for blood and his madness to break through this Pakistani Ring of Steel. He was over running Pakistani defenses, trenches and anti-tank emplacements, surprising the enemy!

Soon, the 47 Infantry Brigade was managing to get a strong hold on the Shakargarh bulge. The 13th Lancers of the Pakistani side by then had taken a lot of casualties! Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal and his boys had taken down a sum total of 7 Patton tanks by that time!

But during this breakthrough, the beloved Famagusta was taking a heavy toll! Bullets dropped like raindrops on the tank while tank and anti-tank shells dropped and detonated all around it, sending in shrapnel that was tearing through the armor! And soon, a Pakistani tank shell hit the Famagusta, rendering it almost immobile!

Second Lieutenant Arun’s Squadron Leader ordered him to abandon his tank as the rest of the Centurions from the A Squadron were closing in to support his advance, while B Squadron had also broken the back of the enemy advancement. The tide was turning against the Pakistanis and like usual—the enemy was one the verge of fleeing. But Lieutenant Arun didn’t comply to his orders and instead focused on targeting another closing in Pakistani tank!

The enemy Patton was already aiming at him, and both of their gun turrets were locked on each other! And the Famagusta was the one to fire first!

The Patton tank stopped on its tracks, slowly catching fire! It was barely 100 yards away from the Famagusta! But another Pakistani tank shell hit the Famagusta, this time critically injuring Arun and his radio operator Sowar Nand Singh. Sowar Nand Singh immediately succumbed to his wounds.

Unfortunately, so did Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal pass away inside his tank. The Famagusta was captured by the Pakistanis, but was later given back to us.

The damaged Famagusta might have returned back home and is on display today, but Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal didn’t survive to see that honor. He was cremated in the Samba district on the 17th of December. He was posthumously honored with the highest gallantry award of India—the Param Vir Chakra.

This is what Major AH Amin, from the Pakistan Armor Corps had said about this gallant warrior—

“The only occasion when a breakthrough could have occurred was when two squadrons of 13 Lancers attacked together in the afternoon, but a gallant last ditch lone stand by 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal of Poona Horse averted the danger.”

He has been honored by the enemy itself for being such a gallant warrior. Brigadier Khwaja Mohammed Nasser, who had shot down Lieutenant Arun’s tank, admitted about the fact to Arun’s father himself, when Brigadier Khetrapal visited Sargodha—the same Pakistani Brigadier who decided to honor Brigadier Khetrapal during his visit and treated him as a guest. This is what Brigadier Nasser had said to Brigadier Khetrapal on his last day of stay in Sargodha—

“Sir, there is something that I wanted to tell you for many years but I did not know how to get through to you. Finally, fate has intervened and sent you to me as an honoured guest. The last few days we have become close to one another and that has made my task even more difficult. It is regarding your son who is, of course, a national hero in India. However, on that fateful day, your son and I were soldiers, unknown to one another, fighting for the respect and safety of our respective countries. I regret to tell you that your son died in my hands. Arun’s courage was exemplary and he moved his tank with fearless courage and daring, totally unconcerned about his safety. Tank casualties were very high till finally there were just two of us left facing one another. We both fired simultaneously. It was destined that I was to live and he was to die. It was only later that I got to know how young he was and who he was. I had all along thought that I would ask your forgiveness, but in telling the story I realize that there is nothing to forgive. Instead I salute your son for what he did at such a young age and I salute you too, because I know how he grew into such a young man. In the end it is character and values that matter.”

The next day photographs were taken and Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal returned to Delhi. Later the photos reached Delhi along with a note from Brigadier Naser that said—

“With Warmest regards and utmost sincerity,

To:

Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, father of Shaheed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, who stood like an unsurmountable rock, between the victory and failure, of the counterattack by the ‘SPEARHEADS’ 13 LANCERS on 16 December 1971 in the battle of “Bara Pind’ as we call it and battle of “Basantar” as 17 Poona Horse remembers.

—Khawja Mohammad Nasser, 13 Lancers, 2 March 2001, Lahore, Pakistan.