Blog | The 1962 Indo-China Battle Of Sirjap, Where A Lake Became A Sea Of War
NDTV
The strategically important 'Fingers', the spurs located on the northern bank of Pangong Tso in Ladakh, have been talked about a lot. But few know about the battle of Sirjap, located north of the beautiful lake.
It was the year 1962. In the month of June, orders came to establish a post on the north bank of Pangong Tso. In order to clearly demonstrate India's presence, Brigade Commander Brigadier Rawind Singh Grewal, MC, chose that this post would be at Sirjap. To cross the lake, the Brigadier managed to get a few storm boats.
The task of establishing the post was given to Major PP Singh, the commander of the 1/8 Gorkha Rifles' Delta Company. On June 12, Singh along with Captain P.L. Kher boarded set off to establish a section-sized post at Sirjap. But it wouldn't be long before the enemy surrounded it. When the message for help came, Major DS Rawat and Quartermaster Captain Issac David Joseph left by boat with a few others to reinforce Sirjap in case there was an attack. Then, on July 21, Captain Ved Parkash Bhasin would establish a second post there, Sirjap-II. These two together made up the Sirjap complex. Just on the opposite bank, there was the Yula complex, manned by another company of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles.
