Ranjit Singh Dyal: Difference between revisions

During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], Ranjit Singh (then a [[Major]]) led the 1st Para team to capture the strategic [[Haji Pir pass]] (which was later handed over to Pakistan after the [[Tashkent Declaration|Tashkent Agreement]]).<ref name="rediff_haji_2002">{{cite web | url = http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/dec/21haji.htm | title = Haji Pir conqueror says handing it back to Pak was a mistake | publisher = [[rediff.com]] | date = 2002-12-22 | accessdate = 2012-02-06 }}</ref> According to the original plan prepared by [[Harbaksh Singh]], the then General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Army Command, the Army was to capture Rustan and Badori (or Bedori) on the way to the Haji Pir pass. Ranjit Singh's unit was tasked with capturing Sank, Sar and Ledwali Gali to stop the enemy infiltration. However, the attack on Sank on the night of 25/26 August was unsuccessful, resulting in 18 casualties.<ref name="ToI_Hajipir_2002">{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/Hajipir-Pass-victory-its-only-in-history/articleshow/21599478.cms | title = Hajipir Pass victory, it’s only in history | publisher = The Times of India | date = 2002-09-08 | accessdate = 2012-02-06 }}</ref> Ranjit Singh's paratroopers captured Sank on the night of 26/27 August, and Point 1033 the next day. Meanwhile, four attacks on Rustan and Badori by other battalions had proved unsuccessful. Ranjit Singh then volunteered to capture the Haji Pir pass, and his battalion took over the operation on 27 August. The unit moved along the Hyderabad nullah with only damp [[shakarpara]]s and [[biscuit]]s as [[field ration]].<ref name="rediff_haji_2002"/> Ranjit Singh's paratroopers were fired upon by the Pakistani Army, but were saved by an unexpected shower. They subsequently captured some Pakistani soldiers from a house during the trek, took over their weapons and used them as load carriers for rest of the journey to the pass. The unit launched the final assault on the pass on 28 August, walking up 4,000 feet on foot. The attack was successful, as the Pakistan troops retreated from the pass. Ranjit Singh Dyal was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] for this operation.▼

In 1984, Ranjit Singh Dyal was appointed the security adviser to the Governor of Punjab for the [[Operation Blue Star]], and effectively had the overall charge of leading the assault.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/15/world/temple-raid-army-s-order-was-restraint.html | title = Temple Raid: Army's Order was Restraint | publisher = [[The New York Times]] | date = 1984-06-15 | accessdate = 2012-02-06 }}</ref> At that time, he was chief of staff of the [[Western Command (India)|Western Army Command]]. Along with [[Kuldip Singh Brar]] and [[Krishnaswamy Sundarji]], he drew up the plans to evict the [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani militants]] from the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] in Amritsar. In 2005, the Chandigarh police arrested two [[Babbar Khalsa]] militants recruited by [[Jagtar Singh Hawara]] to kill Ranjit Singh in retaliation for the Operation Blue Star.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050717/asp/nation/story_5000445.asp | title = Bluestar general on hit list | date = 2005-07-17 | accessdate = 2012-02-06 }}</ref>▼

Ranjit Singh later became the General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]]. He also served as the first head of the Chandigarh regional chapter of the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] Officers Association (PROA) in 2008.<ref name="tribune_PROA_2008">{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020328/punjab1.htm#21 | title = Punjab Regt Officers’ Assn set up | publisher = The Tribune | location = Chandigarh | date = 2008-03-28 | accessdate = 2012-02-06 }}</ref>▼

== Administrative career ==▼