Pul Kanjari’s tale of valour in 1971 war missing from list of tourist spots in Amritsar

The border village of Pul Moran has gained popularity as Pul Kanjari, where the legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh had created a resting place for visitors. But a large number of people are unaware that the Army’s 2 Sikh Regiment had made a heroic comeback by re-capturing the village days after it was overtaken by the Pakistan army in 1971.

The battle which became a legion in the area, did not find mention in the list of potential tourist sites to be visited in the holy city.

A memorial by the Indian Army for the martyrs of the 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment continues to inspire posterity. Named Pul Kanjari War Memorial, 10 valiants of the regiment attained martyrdom, earning one Mahavir Chakra and one Vir Chakra.

These martyrs were L Naik Shangara Singh, MVC, from Chola Sahib village in Tarn Taran, who was born on January 14, 1945, Nawan Shahar village Punia’s Naib Subedar Gian Singh, Vir Chakra, who was born on August 6, 1937, sepoy Gurcharan Singh of Siar village in Ludhiana who was born on December 16, 1952; Tarlok Singh of Bandala village in Amritsar was born on November 11, 1951; Surjit Singh of Jhanda Lubana village in Gurdaspur was born on November 17, 1950; Didar Singh of Sansowal Kalan village in Ludhiana, was born on November 30, 1940; and L Naik Gurdial Singh of Harchanpura village in Sangrur, was born on November 30, 1943. There were two martyrs from Amritsar’s Ruriwala Sarhali village — sepoy Jagtar Singh, who was born on June 17 1953, and Naik Sowaran Singh, born on May 18, 1942.

Natives of the border village Pucca Dhanoan which included areas of Pul Kanjri and the Army memorial, vividly remembered the gallants who re-took the control of the village from Pakistan army. An elderly native of the border village, Kuldeep Singh, said the residents had to flee the village after the Pakistan army took control.

After Indian forces withdrew from the post on December 4, 1971, Pakistan forces had overtaken the village. Days later, Lt Col SC Puri decided to take the border outpost of Pul Moran which falls under Pucca Dhanoan. Troops of 2 Sikh, led by Major NS Koak with 40 valiant soldiers, launched a fierce attack and successfully recaptured the BOP on December 17.

The plaque at the memorial reads that during the battle of Pul Kanjari, as it is named in war history, one JCO and nine other ranks attained martyrdom. The enemy launched a four-corner attack which was successfully decimated. The enemy sustained heavy casualties and its one officer and 10 other ranks were captured as prisoners of war (PoW) with a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

Chola Sahib’s Shangara Singh was posthumously awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and his name is still fresh in the minds of the youth of the village. Germandeep Singh, 25, of the village said the memorial was dedicated to Shingara Singh who had snatched the machine gun from a Pakistan gunner and killed them with their gun. Later, he was killed in enemy fire. Naib Subedar Gian Singh of Nawan Shahar’s Punia village was also posthumously awarded Vir Chakra.

Amritsar