Army8217;s high point within striking range

The infantry soldiers were advancing slowly and cautiously. The operations had definitely slowed down a bit but now the aim is not only to recover the peak but also to limit the casualties.

It was close to midnight and the Observation Post OP officer was sitting high above the clouds, with just his legs in the sleeping bag. The assault party commander leading the operation to recover Point 5140was a young officer. The operation had been well-planned and till now excellently executed. But suddenly the enemy fired hundreds of flares, illuminating the mountains and the adjacent valley.

Sitting at an adjoining mountain peak, the OP officer was in two minds 8212; whether or not to ask for more artillery fire to pound the enemy bunkers. It would make the enemy retreat for some time, enabling the infantry soldiers to advance and lessen the distance between themselves and the target, but a splinter could always hit them.

The OP officer peered through his night vision equipment, specially imported for night warfare. He could barely make out the soldiers crouching behind the protruding rock clutching their helmets. The officer also saw the source of the machine-gun fire and took a calculated decision. 8220;I want fire on the bunkers behind the hump,8221; he radioed to the fire direction centre.

Almost immediately the field guns roared. The lightning created by the flares was temporarily doused. The operationresulted in the Army pushing back the infiltrators from the hump. But the enemy then directed its artillery shells at the Drass Brigade Headquarters. 8220;The enemy is firing air bursts around here. The shells explode in mid-air and thousands of splinters fly in the air with extremely high velocity,8221; said a sentry, tightening the strap of his helmet.

Wearing a helmet has been made mandatory in Drass after a young officer recently went into coma after a splinter pierced his head. There are also 8220;lights out8221; orders after sundown and most officers work with small kerosene oil lamps.

At dawn, the artillery fire and infantry advance came to a standstill. It was a satisfactory operation, according to an officer.

8220;This time I have told my boys to be careful. These intruders, when cornered, abandon their bunkers and run, but not before they lay mines. We have unfortunately suffered some mine casualties and are now being extra careful. Instead of running into a bunker, we carry out de-mining operations and thendrop either tear gas shells or grenades inside the bunker. It is only then the bunker is taken over,8221; the officer explained.

At the Drass headquarters langar kitchen, breakfast was being prepared for the soldiers this morning. For the soldiers fighting at peaks and ridge lines at well over 16,000 feet, breakfast comprised dehydrated potatoes, onions, khichri and tinned fruit. 8220;This is only to augment their dry survival rations,8221; an officer said.

During the day, the Army changed several gun positions to pound the peak more effectively and silence the enemy guns. The soldiers and their weapons were ready for another assault on Point 5140 tonight.