Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Gaurav C Sawant
NEW DELHI, AUG 27: In the list of arms recovered from Pakistani army in the Kargil sector are three 105 mm field guns. Each gun weighing over 1,200 kg had been brought in at least four-to-five kilometers inside the Indian territory by air and placed at an altitude around 15,500 feet, undetected by Indian army.
Sources in the Army admit that the guns - in a systematically planned and perfectly executed operation by the Pakistan army - were apparently dismantled and then flown in by helicopters, unchecked by Indian security forces.
These guns were then strategically deployed on Peak 4833 between Drass and Mushkoh valley sub-sectors where for almost two months they played havoc on Indian Army installations and the Srinagar-Leh highway, say sources in the Army headquarters. Not only this, the enemy carved the mountain to make a flat surface at that altitude to make a gun position to deploy these guns.
"It actually shows that the Pakistanis were well aware of the terrain. They must have carried out veryextensive reconnaissance operations to know where to place the guns to inflict maximum casualties on the Indian Army. Secondly they knew the terrain so well as to chart the flight path of their helicopters. And that they had all the time and peace of mind to do it," conceded an officer.
This also confirms that Pakistani army was extensively using helicopters in occupied territory to deliver arms and replenish resources. "The enemy used very innovative techniques in flying their helicopters in Indian territory undetected. They were flying along the nape of the Valley along mountain peaks, careful not to be seen over the horizon," he added.
The 1,200-kg guns were most likely dismantled and brought in by Puma helicopters. "They could also have been underslung the helicopters. The enemy must have flown several sorties to deliver these three guns. And this gave the enemy artillery tremendous advantage - one of altitude and the other of proximity to Indian installations. They thus did not require very hightrajectory and effectively targeted the highway near Drass and Mushkoh valley," he added.
Sources in Military Intelligence said a special raiding party of the 2 Nagas was organised in the Mushkoh Valley which scaled the peak and silenced the guns. "And not just 105 mm guns, the enemy had also placed heavy mortars in occupied Indian territory. These mortars effectively checked the advance of Army troops trying to recapture the peaks, while the 105 mm guns targeted the Brigade headquarters and the 17-kilometre-long stretch of the highway visible from Peak 4875 and another 10-kilometers visible from Tiger Hill. Convoy movement was hindered and road damaged by effective firing by these field guns," sources said.
The barrel of the guns have been destroyed but sources say the Army found mule tracks leading to the gun position, indicating that mules were used to replenish ammunition to the gun position. "Each 105 mm gun is manned by a seven-member-team. This means that there were 21 soldiers manning the gun,plus a wireless team, a commanding officer and his second in command," said the officer.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------