Introduction. The
battle of Badgam ensured security of the Srinagar
airfield and facilitated further build up of forces. 161 Infantry Brigade could
thus think of the defence of the Srinagar
town as well as advance towards Baramulla for pushing back the raiders. This
was planned through what later came to be known as the Battle of Shalateng. An
illustration of the operation is attached as Appendix E.
1. Plan of Operation.
(a) Forces Available for the Attack.
(i)
1 Sikh.
(ii)
1 Kumaon .
(iii) Two
armoured cars of 7 Cavalry in Bandipur area.
(b) 1 Sikh was
to stay in position and fix the enemy at Srinagar .
(c) 1 Kumaon was to infiltrate westwards and
position itself to the South of the raiders from the direction of Pattan, and
launch an attack on the code word, “Go”.
(d) The armoured cars which were to be the
main element in the attack were to move from Krahom to Sumbal through Shadipur
and join the main Baramulla – Srinagar
road at Shalateng . By appearing
suddenly in the rear they were to deliver the coup-de-grace.
(e) The critical part of the plan was the
ability of the armoured cars to negotiate the road between Krahom to Sumbal
which had some weak bridges.
2. Course of Battle
(a) The armoured cars successfully negotiated
the stretch between Krahom and Sumbal and 1 Kumaon was ordered to infiltrate
westwards.
(b) 1 Kumaon and the armoured cars having
reached respective positions, the code-word, “Go” was given.
(c) The raiders were caught in the fire from
three directions, the armoured cars in the West, 1 Kumaon in the South and 1
Sikh in the East. Air strikes were also
carried out on enemy positions.
(e) The sudden appearance of the armoured
cars in the rear followed by the multi directional attacks broke the enemy’s
will to fight and he broke ranks.
(f) The advance was pursued towards Pattan
and Baramulla hich was captured the very next day.
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