From Garibpur to Dhaka: The opening move of India’s 1971 campaign

Garibpur lay near the Boyra salient, about four kilometres inside East Pakistan opposite India's Hanskhali border in West Bengal.

In November 1971, although political tensions in East Pakistan had already erupted into civil war, the Indian Army was quietly preparing for the possibility of open conflict. Refugee flows from East Pakistan had crossed ten million, and border skirmishes were becoming increasingly fierce. The eastern theatre had fallen to the responsibility of various Indian corps tasked with the security of the Mukti Bahini as well as sealing off Pakistani positions before the formal outbreak of war. Among these, 9 Infantry Division under IV Corps would operate in the Jessore sector, a key forward post of which would become the site of the first major engagement, namely, Garibpur.

Garibpur lay near the Boyra salient, about four kilometres inside East Pakistan opposite India's Hanskhali border in West Bengal. This area, though small and flat, was strategically important, astride as it was on the road from Jessore to Magura and securing approaches to Khulna, a strong Pakistani garrison town. Reports through mid-November suggested that Pakistani troops were reinforcing it to block Mukti Bahini infiltration. Indian commanders decided to act preemptively to seize Garibpur before the enemy could launch a stronger thrust.

The Indian plan and the units involved

This partial operation was entrusted to Brigadier C. L. Sharma's 350 Infantry Brigade under 9 Division. The main assault would fall to 14 Punjab Regiment, supported by a troop of PT-76 tanks from 45 Cavalry and elements of 102 Engineer Regiment. Their mission was simple yet risky: cross into East Pakistan, secure the village of Garibpur, and establish a firm defensive position before dawn while refraining from escalation that could give the appearance of open invasion.

The plan called for a silent advance on the night of November 20–21. Hardened troops and familiar with such marshy terrain, they moved ahead quietly along narrow tracks under cover of darkness. At first light, they assaulted the Pakistani forward company of 107 Infantry Brigade, 205 Brigade Group, and after inflicting casualties on it, forced it to fall back. By 0600 hours, Garibpur was in Indian hands, and the troops began digging in for the expected counterattack.

Reaction and air intervention by Pakistan

The setback at Garibpur shocked the Pakistani command at Jessore, headed by Brigadier Hayat Khan. Interpreting this as an invasion in depth, Hayat ordered an immediate counterattack to recapture the position and restore his control over the border. He ordered two companies of 3 (Independent) Armoured Squadron-equipped M24 Chaffee light tanks-and elements of 22 Frontier Force to advance on Garibpur from Jessore with artillery support.

The counter-attack began before dawn on November 21. As Pakistani armour moved across the open paddy fields, it was confronted by well camouflaged PT-76 tanks of 45 Cavalry, under Major D. S. Narang. Outnumbered, Narang’s troop held its fire until the enemy was within 600 metres, then opened up with deadly accuracy. The soft ground restricted manoeuvre, forcing the Pakistani Chaffees into narrow lanes where they were picked off one after another. In a fierce duel that lasted barely an hour, Major Narang’s tanks destroyed eleven enemy tanks. Narang himself was killed while directing fire from an exposed position, but his leadership had already turned the tide.

The attack by Pakistan collapsed by mid-morning, leaving behind a battlefield of burning tanks. Their infantry fell back in disarray toward Jessore, abandoning weapons and vehicles. Garibpur remained firmly in Indian hands.

The first air battle over East Pakistan

The battle took another dramatic turn when the Pakistan Air Force decided to intervene. On November 22, around 1100 hours, three PAF Sabres from Jessore airbase strafed Indian positions at Garibpur, destroying a few vehicles and killing several soldiers. In no time, the Indian Air Force joined the action, scrambling four Gnats from Dum Dum (Kolkata). In the dogfight over Boyra, IAF pilots Flight Lieutenants M. A. Ganapathy, M. A. Soares and P. K. Reddy shot down three PAF Sabres—the first aerial kills of the war. One pilot, Flight Lieutenant Parvez Qureshi, was captured alive after ejecting over Indian territory.

The “Battle of Boyra” in the skies above Garibpur electrified the nation and confirmed that India was ready for the larger conflict to come. It also revealed Pakistan’s involvement inside Indian airspace, providing Delhi with diplomatic justification when full-scale hostilities began on December 3.

Strategic impact of the Garibpur engagement

Fought before a declaration of war, Garibpur nonetheless was a microcosm of what was to follow in the eastern campaign; there, the Indian Army had complete tactical superiority, better coordination with air support, and higher morale. The swift victory boosted the confidence of IV Corps under Lieutenant General Sagat Singh, whose bold leadership would later carry Indian forces to Dhaka.

Operationally, the battle achieved its purpose. Garibpur's capture denied Pakistan an important crossing route toward the Indian border and fixed enemy attention on Jessore, where it now feared a major offensive. When the full war broke out in December, Jessore fell within a week as Pakistani troops, demoralised and outflanked, abandoned their positions and withdrew toward Khulna. The Garibpur bridgehead had served as the springboard for this success.

The terrain and tactical brilliance

This was no accidental victory. The landscape around Garibpur-flat, waterlogged paddy fields cut by canals-was perfect for ambush and defence and dangerous for advancing armour. Indian planners exploited the topography to the full. Occupying the high ground around the village and camouflaging the PT-76s forced the Pakistani tanks into channels where their relative firepower advantage was dissipated. Coordination between 14 Punjab and 45 Cavalry was faultless, a sign of the increasing proficiency that the army acquired in combinedarms fighting.

The lightly armoured PT-76 proved to be decisive, however. Its amphibious capability allowed it to traverse marshes where heavier Chaffees bogged down. It became a textbook example of light armour in restrictive terrain to achieve outsized results.

Human tales of courage and loss

The victory came at a cost. Major D. S. Narang of 45 Cavalry, who led his tank troop from the front, was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. His calm under fire and tactical acumen became legend within the regiment. Sepoy Harnam Singh of 14 Punjab also earned posthumous recognition for bravery while repelling repeated enemy assaults. The unit’s war

diary records how soldiers continued to fight and hold their trenches under artillery and air attacks without food or rest for two days.

The camaraderie between Indian troops and Mukti Bahini fighters was another remarkable feature. Local guides helped the Indian tanks negotiate the maze of embankments while villagers provided real-time intelligence about enemy movements. For many of them, Garibpur marked the first taste of liberation.

Diplomatic and psychological consequences

The timing of the battle was politically sensitive, with India still avoiding a formal declaration of war as it waited for the international situation to crystallize. But Pakistan's use of armour and aircraft against Indian forces effectively broke the cease-fire line. The government in Delhi used the incident to strengthen its case that Pakistan had already begun hostilities. When the war finally began on December 3, India could demonstrate that its military response was defensive and justified.

Psychologically, the battle marked a turning point. This was the first time since 1965 that Indian troops had crossed the border, seized ground, and held it against counterattack. The speed and decisiveness of the victory convinced both Indian and Bangladeshi commanders that liberation of East Pakistan was achievable within weeks, not months.

Aftermath and the link to later victories

After the battle, Garibpur remained in Indian hands for the duration of the war and acted as a forward base for the next operations in the direction of Jessore and Khulna. When the main offensive started in early December, the Pakistani resistance in the sector was negligible. The lessons of Garibpur-speed, surprise, and bold initiative-were applied again and again in the IV Corps' advance to Dhaka, culminating in the historic surrender of December 16.

In retrospect, the battle at Garibpur was more than a local skirmish. It was the first test of India's new offensive doctrine and combined operations plan in the east. It validated the coordination between armour, infantry, and air power that would define the lightning campaign of 1971.

Remembering the battle today

Today, the Battle of Garibpur is remembered as the inaugural act of India's victory in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Veterans remember the surreal silence of the night crossing, the sudden din of tank fire, and the flaming Chaffees lighting the paddy fields. For the Indian Army, it marked the end of strategic hesitation and the beginning of confident, coordinated warfare.

A memorial stands near the village of Garibpur in modern Bangladesh, honouring Indian soldiers and fighters from the Mukti Bahini who fell in the engagement. Each year, delegations from both countries visit the site, paying homage and reaffirming the shared legacy of liberation forged in those three days of November 1971.

The fight that signalled victory

The Battle of Garibpur was fought before the world knew that war had already begun. In a few short hours, it established India's tactical dominance, exposed Pakistan's vulnerabilities, and gave a psychological edge that endured through the campaign. It was proof that well-prepared, disciplined troops could deliver decisive blows even under political restraint.

In strategic retrospect, Garibpur was the first clear signal that would indicate the inevitability of the liberation of Bangladesh. A small battle it was, but one that heralded a great victory, one that began quietly in the fog of a November dawn and echoed all the way to Dhaka three weeks later.