It was 16th Dec 1971 when a 21-Year-old braveheart,2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal who single-handedly defeated 7 Pak Tanks & passed into legend. On the same day that the 2nd Lt breathed his last, the #Pakistan Army signed the Instrument of Surrender & the war was won.
#VijayDiwas.
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On 16 Dec, he had rushed to the aid of his fellow soldiers, decimating several Patton tanks of the #Pakistan in his lone Centurion tank before he was grievously wounded. Though ordered to abandon his tank, he refused & stuck to his tank – firing till the very end.
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Famagusta JX 202, the historic Centurion Mk7 tank that decimated 07 #Pakistani Pattons during the greatest tank battle fought by the #IndianArmy – the Battle of Basantar, still stands at the Armed Corps Center and School in Ahemdabad.
#VijayDiwas
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The fierceness of the battle can be gauged from the fact that #Pakistan lost a staggering 48 Patton tanks in the epic battle that took place in Pak territory, completely wiping out its 8 Armoured Brigade(I).
#VijayDiwas
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By the end of the war, #India’s Black Arrow Brigade comprising the Poona Horse(2nd Lt Khetarpal's unit) & Hodson’s Horse regiments had won 79 gallantry awards to become the most highly decorated formation of the #IndianArmy.
#VijayDiwas
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Born on 14 Oct, 1950 in Pune, Arun Khetarpal joined the #IndianArmy as a 2nd Lt in 1971. He had the spirit of the army running in his veins. He was the fourth generation officer from his family, his father, Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, served in Army’s Engineering Corps.
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06 months later, the war was declared & Arun’s regiment was ordered to establish a bridgehead across the Basantar river in the Shakargarh sector, a 30 km dagger-shaped bulge of the #Pakistan boundary towards #Indian territory.
#VijayDiwas
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On the fateful morning of December 16, 02 tank troops of Poona Horse one of which was under the command of 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal were ordered to move towards Jarpal in #Pakistan during the bridgehead operation.
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While crossing the Basantar River, their tanks came under fire from #Pakistani tanks & recoil gun. They retaliated fiercely destroying tanks, capturing gun, over-running enemy defences.
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During these ferocious skirmishes, one of the tank were hit and the commander killed on spot. This left Arun and his tank all alone in the combat zone with a squadron of 14 #Pakistani Patton tanks approaching them.
#VijayDiwas
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Outnumbered but undeterred, the gutsy 21-year-old led a daring & highly skilled counter-attack. His Famagusta JX 202 single-handedly destroyed five of the enemy tanks before his the tank hit by a shell.
#VijayDiwas
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Grievously injured with his tank aflame, Arun was asked to withdraw. The gallant officer sent a message to his Commander - “No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working and I will get these guys”
#VijayDiwas
(12/14)

Fighting till his last breath, Arun destroyed 02 more #Pakistani tanks before his tank was hit a second time & he was martyred. But by then, he had accomplished what he had set out to do - give the #IndianArmy a crucial edge that would lay the foundation for victory.
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The youngest #Indian to win the country’s highest wartime gallantry award, Arun’s PVC citation said:
“His intrepid valour saved the day; the enemy was denied the breakthrough they were so desperately seeking. Not one enemy tank got through.”
#VijayDiwas
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