AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 159 of 170 2/Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal 17th Poona Horse (posthumous) Date of Action: 16 December 1971 Place of Action: Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector,??? Date and Place of Birth: 14 October 1950, Pune, Maharashtra, son of M. L Khetrapal (Brigadier, retired) Commissioned: 13 June 1971 (six months before the action) 54. 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, son of Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, was born on 14 October 1950, in Pune, Maharashtra. Arun came from a family with a long tradition of service in the Army. He schooled at Sanawar where he distinguished himself both in academics and sports. In 1967 he joined the National Defense Academy (NDA) and then went on to Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned in the 17 Poona Horse on 13 June 1971. CITATION 55. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the 47 Infantry Brigade, with the 17 Poona Horse under command, was ordered to establish a bridge-head across the Basantar River in Shakargarh sector. The Infantry Brigade, completed the task by 2100 hours on December 15th. 56. It was now for the engineers to breach the enemy mine-fields and make a safe lane for the induction of 17 Poona Horse in support of the bridge-head While the engineers were half way through their task, the Indian troops at the bridge-head reported alarming activity of the enemy armour. 57. They requested immediate tank support. But the mine-field had been cleared only partially by that time. At this critical juncture, the 17 Poona Horse decided to push through the mine-field come what may. By first light on December 16th, the regiment established a link-up between the armour and the infantry at the bridgehead. 58. At 0800 hours, the enemy made a counter-attack with an armour regiment, under the cover of a smoke-screen. The target was the regimental pivot at Jarpal. As the Indians troops were heavily outnumbered, the Commander of ‘B’ Squadron requested reinforcement. 59. At that time, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was positioned close to the squadron with his troops in two tanks. He answered the call and moved out to face the enemy attack. On the way, his troops came under fire from enemy strong points and recoilless gun nests, in the bridge-head zone. 60. 2nd Lieutenant Khetarpal fiercely attacked these strong-points, over-ran defences and captured many enemy soldiers and recoilless guns at gun point. During one of these attacks, the commander of his second tank was killed on the spot leaving him alone.