Shillong, May 20: The renovated memorial at Kilapara border outpost in Dalu under West Garo Hills district, which stands testimony to the bravery of BSF personnel during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, will be unveiled on May 25.
The renovation started two months back on the initiative of BSF inspector-general (Meghalaya frontier) Sudesh Kumar.
“The war memorial marks the important battle fought on the eastern front during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. The Kilapara-Dalu border outpost was being guarded by the BSF and it was the valiant action on the part of the jawans who were successful in denying Pakistani troops strategic control over the Dalu-Tura Road,” a BSF official said.
Narrating the incident, the official said troops from the 83rd BSF Battalion were deployed in West Garo Hills. One company of the battalion was deployed at Kilapara on the Dalu border outpost.
During that period, thousands of refugees had taken shelter in camps at Dalu. On May 24, 1971 around 4pm, the Pakistani army resorted to intermittent firing and shelling on the Kilapara outpost and in the Dalu area till 6pm.
In between the firing, movement was also noticed along the international border. The commander of Kilapara outpost, havildar Man Bahadur Rai, reported the matter to his seniors at Dalu.
Most of the inhabitants of Kilapara left their homes and moved towards Chaipani for shelter because of the firing by the Pakistani army. Later, it was learnt that some Pakistani army personnel, disguised as refugees, had crossed the international border and reached the camps.
On May 25, taking advantage of heavy rain from 3am, two companies of Pakistani army crossed the international border and launched an attack on the Kilapara outpost. However, the BSF troops at the outpost fought back bravely and the attack was repulsed.
The enemy again regrouped and attacked the outpost for the third time. While defending the outpost, nine BSF personnel were killed. Their valour had denied the enemy strategic control over the Dalu-Tura road and facilitated the liberation of Bangladesh.
Two BSF personnel, along with one civilian, Jyotish Shah of Kilapara village, were taken prisoners of war.
In honour and memory of the BSF martyrs, a war memorial had been constructed at the Kilapara border outpost. However, with the passage of time, the condition of the memorial deteriorated. The renovated war memorial will be officially unveiled on May 25 at 11am.
BSF director-general Subhash Joshi will preside over the function while BDR director-general Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed will be the guest of honour.
