Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal: The Tank Troop Leader Who Fought On in 1971 War

• Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, commissioned into The Poona Horse, was barely six months into service during the 1971 war.
• He played a crucial role in the intense fighting around the Basantar river in the Shakargarh Bulge, a strategic Pakistani territory.
• Khetarpal's troop reinforced Indian positions at Jarpal, overrunning enemy strongpoints and destroying a Pakistani tank.
• In a fierce battle, his tank was hit and caught fire, but he refused orders to abandon it, continuing to fight despite severe wounds.
• He destroyed another enemy tank before being fatally injured, his stand proving critical in holding the bridgehead at Basantar.

Why It Matters: Arun Khetarpal's extraordinary bravery and tactical aggression at Basantar were pivotal in the 1971 war.