Among the tasks set for the 47th Brigade was to establish a bridgehead across the River Basantar. By 21:00 hours on 15 December, the brigade had captured its objectives. However, the area was extensively mined, which prevented the early deployment of the tanks of the Poona Horse, and the engineers clearing the mines were only halfway through their work when Indian troops at the bridge-head reported heavy and alarming enemy armour movement, requesting immediate armour support. At this critical juncture, the 17 Poona Horse decided to push through the minefield despite the risks. The regiment successfully linked up with the infantry at the bridge-head by first light the following day.[10]
Unsung crew members Independent veteran testimonies and recent defence reportage highlight the contributions of several lesser-known tank crewmen who supported the armoured operations during the Battle of Basantar. Modern accounts identify Sowar Parag (Prayag) Singh, Sowar Nand Singh and Sowar Nathu Singh of Hodson’s Horse (4th Horse) among the soldiers who played significant operational roles alongside the troop that included 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal during the critical stages of the engagement. According to these reports, Parag Singh provided rapid assessments of enemy tank positions, visibility conditions and local terrain, which contributed to the situational awareness of the troop. Sowar Nand Singh and Sowar Nathu Singh, operating in adjacent supporting tanks, are noted for maintaining coordinated fire, relaying movement cues and holding their positions under intense incoming fire as Pakistani armour attempted multiple thrusts toward the bridgehead. The report notes that all three crewmen continued their support roles until their tanks were disabled by direct hits during the height of the battle. Although their actions do not appear prominently in official gallantry citations, independent war correspondence places Parag Singh, Nand Singh and Nathu Singh among the “unsung crewmen” whose efforts formed an integral component of the broader armoured resistance at Basantar.
Bridge-head At 08:00 hours on 16th December, Pakistani armour launched the first of their counter-attacks under the cover of a smokescreen at the pivot of the 17th Poona Horse at Jharpal. At 08:00 hours, the Pakistani
13th Lancers, equipped with the then state-of-the-art US-made 50 ton
Patton tanks, relaunched the first of their counter-attacks under the cover of a smokescreen at 'B' Squadron, The Poona Horse, at Jharpal. Its squadron commander urgently called for reinforcements. Arun Khetarpal, who was in 'A' squadron and was stationed close by with his
Centurion tank troops, responded with alacrity, as did the rest of his regiment. The first counter-attack was decimated by accurate gunnery, coolness by Indian tank troops and individual tank commanders from the CO,
Lt Col Hanut Singh down to its troop leader, Arun Khetarpal. The
13th Lancers desperately launched two more squadron-level counter-attacks and managed to achieve a breakthrough. Khetarpal rushed to meet the Pakistani armour and launched right into the Pakistani attack. With his
troop, he was able to run over the enemy advance with his tanks. However, the commander of the second tank was killed in this attack. Alone in the charge, Khetarpal continued his attack on the enemy strongholds. Disappointed by his failure so far, he desperately attacked the incoming Pakistani troops and tanks, knocking out a Pakistani tank in the process. However Pakistani forces regrouped and counter-attacked. In the ensuing tank battle, Lt. Arun Khetarpal with his 2 remaining tanks bravely fought off and destroyed 10 Pakistani Patton tanks before he was shot and killed in action.
Death The skirmish however took its toll on the lieutenant as he was hit by enemy fire, but instead of abandoning the tank, he fought on, thus destroying one final tank before he was finally overwhelmed. However, his actions had denied a vital breakthrough for Pakistani forces and instead put the Indians in a stronger position in the Shakargarh bulge. His final words over the radio to a superior officer who had ordered him to abandon his burning tank were, Then he set about destroying the remaining enemy tanks. The last enemy tank which he shot was barely 100 metres from his position. At this stage, his tank received a second hit and he was seriously injured. The officer met his death trying to deny the
Pakistani Army its desired breakthrough. Khetarpal's body and his tank, named "Famagusta", were later captured by Pakistan and eventually returned to the Indian military. This tank is on display in India now. For his conspicuous bravery and extreme gallantry in the face of fierce and unrelenting attacks and assaults by the enemy (the Pakistani military), Khetarpal was honoured with India's most-prestigious and highest-standard military medal for courage and gallantry, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. Arun Khetarpal's body was cremated on 17-December near
Samba district and his ashes were sent to his family, who were unaware of his death until 26 December. The crew of the
Famagusta was Sowar Prayag Singh (the driver), Sowar Nand Singh (the radio operator), Sowar Nathu Singh (the gunner) and 2nd/Lt. Arun Khetarpal, the tank's commander. Nand Singh was first casualty (killed in action; KIA) when the tank was fatally hit in the final encounter with Pakistani Army Major Nasser's Patton tank. Arun was the second one to be killed after he sustained severe injuries when his tank was knocked out and eventually succumbed to his wounds. Both Prayag Singh and Nathu Singh were also badly wounded but survived and were captured by Pakistani troops who seized the
Famagusta. ==Param Vir Chakra Citation==