Capture of zulu spur

1. CAPTURE OF ZULU SPUR-
THE LAST BATTLE OF
KARGIL WAR
AS RECEIVED FROM
BRIGADIER BRIJ RAJ
SINGH DAHIYA

4. Today, on 22 July 1999, my brigade commenced to undertake the last battle of the Kargil war & that
was ,capture of Zulu Spur .
The Zulu complex consisted of Tri Junc, Zulu Base & Zulu Top.

5. With 3/3 GR & Two Teams of 9 Para SF, supported by 11 Fire Units, I successfully captured Zulu Spur by
25 July, 1999.
The Pakistani troops although were required to go back across the LC after the capture of Tiger Hill & Pt
4875 but had not done so & instead had deployed the regular troops on a prominent feature called Zulu
Spur located approximately 2 Km South of the LC.
This time we had to face a regular Pakistani Unit ( 16 FF) who were wearing a proper Khaki Uniform.
Instead of a night attack planned at 2030 h on 22 July 1999 for the capture of Tri Junction , I decided to
go in for a day attack as the weather had packed up suddenly. At 1315 h on 22 July,1999, I
Ordered Capt Amit Aul ( son of Brigadier Amar Aul , a colleague & the neighbouring Brigade Commader
of 56 Mountain Brigade) of C Coy , 3/3 GR, to start advancing towards the objective,Tri Junction.
The enemy was totally taken by surprise & the Tri Juction was captured without firing a single bullet , by
1630 h on 22 July.
Later it was found that expecting a night attack, the Platoon of B Company ( commanded by one Major
Malik of 16 FF ( pakistan), were having a nap on the reverse slope , expecting us after the last light as
usual.
On the night 22/23 , the next objective was also captured by Maj Pallav Mishra of D coy 3/3 GR without
much resistance as that enemy troops had withdrawn to Zulu Top , to hold it in strength.
Since it was a shear cliff going to the Zulu Top ,without any approach & all likely points having been
completely mined & booby trapped, I thought of taking the help of two Teams if 9 Para SF , who were
located in the close vicinity & requested the GOC accordingly.
There was big ‘ NO’ from the Commanding Officer of 9 Para SF. It was on the intervention of the higher
HQs that Two Teams , each commanded by Major Dhaliwal & Capt Sudhir Kumar ( earlier ADC to the
CAOS, General VP Malik & later awarded Ashok Chakra ( Posthumously) in CI ops).
Both the Teams reached Zulu Base at 1500 h on 24 July to be ready for the H hour at 1800h.

6. Major Dhaliwal’s Team was to assault from Eastern side & Captain Sudhir Kumar, from South Western
side.
By 0200h on 25 July, both Teams had reached the RV , 100 M short of Top. The Teams reached Zulu Top
at first light & captured the Bunkers on the Top without much resistence but as they were advancing
North towards a locality called , Pimple 1, there was a fierce Counter Attack by the enemy with a
strength of 25 personnel, in a hand to hand fight , Captain Sudhir Kumar, charged towards the enemy
with his 8 men & within no time enemy started retreating.
9 Para SF , lost four soldiers but enemy left its 13dead , a wounded enemy soldier, Sep Mohd ashraf was
made POW ( Prisoner Of War)
Later airlifted to ADS , where I met him. He was subsequently treated & repatriated.
By 1000h on 25 July, the columns of 3/3 GR had reached Zulu Top & Both the Teams of 9 Para SF,
relieved.
The battle had been won.
Next day the enemy 16 FF Commanding Officer , Col Mustafa came on Radio & requested for dead
bodies to be returned & in turn promised to withdraw across the LC without giving any fight.
When asked as to ‘how do I take his word’ ? he said, Sir, it’s a word of a ‘ PATHAN’ , I also instantly
promised him that it shall be done, provided they take their bodies with respect on stretchers with a
proper contingent & told him the that , this is also a word of a ‘ SARDAR’ ( SIKH).
Sure enough, we both kept our words although it took me sometime to convince my GOC.
Initially, I was admonished to have handed over the bodies in the battle field, perhaps it had happened
for the first time, but later , I was given a pat once the recorded video clip was seen by the UNO &
appreciated .
Shall be posting, both, the clip showing returning of the dead bodies ( we had wrapped their bodies in
their National flag) & picture of their POW , Sep Mohd Ashraf of 16 FF, where I met him in the ADS &
moment I spoke to him in Punjabi, he started crying saying that he had never seen a Brigadier in his
Army talking to the soldiers like this.

7. After all , we in the INDIAN ARMY , don’t do Different Things BUT we do ‘DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ‘.
The Kargil war which had officially started on 05 May 1999 came to an end on 26 July 1999 ( after my
last operation was complete by 25 July), therefore, the VIJAY DIWAS is celebrated on 26 July, every year.
JAI HIND
Brigadier MPS Bajwa, YSM
Commander, 192 Mountain Brigade ( Tiger Hill Brigade)