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{{Short description|Battle of the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Garibpur
| width =
| partof = [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
| image = Tank - 55.jpg
| caption = The T-55 tank of Soviet origin and of 1950 vintage, used extensively in Indo-Pak war of 1971
| date = 20–21 November 1971<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=11|day1=20|year1=1971|month2=11|day2=21|year2=1971}})
| place = Garibpur, present day [[Bangladesh]]
| coordinates =
| result = Bangladeshi-Indian victory
| combatant1 = {{flag|Bangladesh|1971}} (Mukti Bahini)<br /> {{flag|India|23px}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Pakistan|23px}}
| commander1 = *[[Colonel]] DS Jamwal (Regiment Commanding Officer 1971-73)
*[[Brigadier]] Balram Singh Mehta<ref name=quint/>
*[[Major]] Daljit Singh Narang{{KIA}}<ref name=quint/>
*[[Colonel]] TS Sidhu <ref name=quint/>
*Lt col (later brigadier) R K Singh,MVC(Awarded for this battle) Commanding Officer 14 Punjab<ref name=quint/>
| commander2 = Unknown
| strength1 =
*[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Indian Army]]
| strength2 = *[[File:Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg|20px]] [[Pakistan Army]]
| casualties1 = 2 tanks destroyed<ref name=quint/>
| casualties2 = 8 tanks destroyed, 3 captured<ref name=quint>[https://www.thequint.com/videos/news-videos/battle-of-garibpur-a-prelude-to-india-pakistan-war-1971 The Battle of Garibpur: Veterans Recall The Prelude to 1971 War]</ref>
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Bangladesh Liberation War}}
}}

The '''Battle of Garibpur''' was a battle that was fought by the [[Pakistan Army]] against the [[Indian Army]] on 20–21 November 1971. This battle was fought 12 days before India officially joined the war against Pakistan. The battle started after an Indian army 14 Punjab battalion supported by [[PT-76]] tanks from the [[45 Cavalry]] and [[Mukti Bahini]] moved in to capture the areas around Garibpur inside the Pakistani territory, prompting a Pakistani counterattack.<ref name=quint/>

==Background==
After months of internal tensions in [[East Pakistan]] (current day [[Bangladesh]]) and a clampdown on Bengali nationalists, the independence forces had coalesced into the combined [[Mukti Bahini]]. After initial success by Pakistani troops against the Mukti Bahini there had been some relative calm in the region and further Indian assistance was sought to turn the tide. India thus started to involve itself deeper into the conflict brewing in the east and stationed its troops near the border.

The [[Boyra]] [[Salients, re-entrants and pockets|salient]] located inside the northwest part of East Pakistan consisting of Garibpur village was at an important crossroads for both nations. Its control was thus vital as it included a [[highway]] to [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]] from India.

==The battle==
On 21 November, the [[14th Punjab Regiment]], supported by [[PT-76]] tanks from [[45 Cavalry]] and [[Mukti Bahini]] moved in to capture the areas around Garibpur inside Pakistani territory. The move was supposed to be a surprise, but following a skirmish with [[patrol]] troops of both armies the previous day, Pakistan was alerted to this impending attack. Pakistan immediately retaliated with an infantry battalion<ref name=quint/> supported by the 3rd Independent Armoured Squadron, equipped with [[M24 Chaffee]] light tanks. Retaining infantry and [[recoilless rifle]]s in a defensive position, the Indian tanks were sent forward to ambush the oncoming Pakistani charge. In the next couple of hours, the Indian troops resisted the Pakistani attack who couldn't pinpoint the source of attacks due to poor visibility on account of [[fog]]. Undeterred, Pakistani tanks and infantry were thrown into an offensive against the Indian defensive positions. However, the attack was repulsed by the Indians and resulted in heavy casualties for both Pakistan and India. The Indian PT-76s proved superior to the Pakistani Chaffees, with 8 Pakistani Chaffees destroyed and 3 captured.<ref name="quint"/> Indian troops and Mukti Bahini also suffered heavy casualties during the battle.<ref name=quint/> An Indian Army tank led by Colonel TS Sidhu was destroyed by Pakistani fire, wounding him, and Major Daljit Singh Narang was killed.<ref name=quint/> He was posthumously awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest military honour.

===Battle of Boyra===
{{See|Battle of Boyra}}
The Pakistani Army had called for help from the [[Pakistan Air Force]] which soon responded with attacks on Indian positions. At around 3:00 p.m. three [[Canadair Sabre|Sabre]]s from the PAF's [[No. 14 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 14 Squadron]] flew in to provide [[close air support]] and hit the Indian positions using [[machine gun]]s and [[rocket]] fire. The [[Indian Air Force]], however, was prepared for such an attack and mobilized four [[Folland Gnat|Folland Gnats]] to intercept. Two Sabres were shot down while another was damaged after a brief dogfight. The damaged F-86 Sabre managed to fly back home safely. Two of the pilots ejected safely but were captured by the Mukti Bahini and Indian troops and were taken to India as [[POW]]s.

==Aftermath==
The battle coming just weeks before the official start of the war had an unexpected turn of events. Victory in this and other battles like [[Battle of Hilli]] ensured that the Northern sector of East Pakistan was virtually in the hands of [[Mitro Bahini]] (an alliance of [[Indian Army]] and [[Mukti Bahini]]) before the war was declared.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

{{Bangladesh liberation}}
{{1971 Indo-Pak War}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Bangladesh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Garibpur}}
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War|Garibpur]]
[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars|Garibpur]]
[[Category:November 1971 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1971|Garibpur]]

Battle of Garibpur - Revision history

Dutchhoek11: refine citations as per guidelines and added references

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