Battle of Thorgo

During the Siege of Skardu, Colonel Sher Jung Thapa and his state forces garrison successfully held off the Gilgit Scouts, which were a paramilitary force within the Gilgit-Baltistan region in northern Pakistan.^[17] After repeated requests for reinforcement from Colonel Thapa,^[17] headquarters in Srinagar dispatched another relief column, codenamed "Biscuit column," led by Brigadier Faqir Singh of the State forces.^[d][18]

Major Ehsan Ali, commander of the Gilgit Scouts, had initially planned to ambush an earlier relief column arriving on February 13 but failed to do so. Upon learning of the new column, he prepared another ambush targeting Brigadier Faqir Singh's forces.^[19] According to Mahajan, fighting intensified in the Skardu sector, including a failed attempt by the Skardu garrison to capture Point 8853 from the Scouts.^[20]

 

On 15 February, the Skardu garrison spotted a small Gilgit Scout force moving toward the expected relief column route. The next day, a larger force was seen advancing in the same direction.^[18]

Colonel Thapa, informed by Srinagar Headquarters that reinforcements would arrive on February 18, recognized these movements as ambush preparations.^[18] However, a malfunctioning W/T communication set prevented him from warning the relief forces. Despite notifying Srinagar Headquarters and requesting airstrikes against the Scouts, no strikes were conducted.^[14]

Meanwhile, the arrival of the relief column greatly concerned Major Ehsan. Orders were given to Brigadier Faqir Singh to secure Thorgo Pari and keep the Indus path open.^[21] As Brigadier Faqir's column approached Parkutta and Gol, he believed that the severe cold would incapacitate the Scouts.^[18] However, the Gilgit Scouts split their forces, leaving a smaller contingent at Skardu to continue shelling the garrison, while the majority of troops under Major Ehsan Ali prepared to ambush the relief column.^[22]

The Gilgit Scouts chose Thorgo Pari near Gol as the site for their ambush, where the road narrowed along the Indus River's left bank, allowing only single-file passage.^[23] Captain Nek Alam and his platoon took positions on the northernmost part of Thorgo Hill. Subedar Muhammad Ali^[e] and Lieutenant Babar spread their two platoons opposite Nurhbuchung village near the river. Captain Mohammed Khan positioned a mortar and machine gun section at the other end of the Pari, while another machine gun section was stationed at the edge. With these placements, the Scouts were prepared for the ambush.^[24]

On 17 February, Brigadier Singh and Major Coutts's forces advanced through the narrow pass under the cover of darkness.^[23] To the surprise of the Scouts, the column unexpectedly stopped near the ambush site for lunch before resuming their advance.^[25] As they entered firing range, the Scouts launched their ambush with combined arms fire and rolling rocks.^[23] Despite attempts to regroup, 3-inch and 2-inch mortar bombs caused heavy casualties, including wounding Brigadier Singh in the face and shoulder.^[23][26]

 

Despite the attack, the relief column returned fire and managed to hold their positions, preventing further Scout advances until dusk, though they were forced to leave behind their dead.^[26] The bombardment continued with mortar fire and constant shooting, aimed at preventing any regrouping of troops near Brigadier Faqir Singh.^[25] Defeated, the remaining forces retreated towards Kargil, spending the night at Totli on 18 March and the column finally reached Kargil on 21 March.^[26] Brigadier Faqir Singh handed over command to Indian military advisor Major Coutts before returning to Srinagar for medical treatment.^[26]

The ambush on the relief column caused significant confusion and resulted in heavy casualties. Some troops attempted to escape by diving into the water, and abandoning their supplies, which included three mortars, light machine guns, rifles, a Bren gun, a Sten gun, grenades, .303 rounds, and 20 wireless sets, according to Ahmad Hasan Dani.^[16] Muhammad Yusuf Saraf reported that the Scouts captured 75,000 rounds of .303 ammunition, along with two or three mortars, medium machine guns, rifles, Sten guns, and various civilian supplies. Out of 350 men, 150 were reported dead on the spot, with only 75 believed to have survived.^[6]

S.N. Prasad provided a different account, stating that the relief column suffered 18 injuries, 26 deaths, and seven missing persons presumed dead. The Scouts captured 27 rifles, five Sten guns, two Vickers Berthier machine guns, 64,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, 84 hand grenades, 51 high-explosive bombs for the 2-inch mortar, and 204 HE bombs for the 3-inch mortar.^[7] According to a Government of India publication, Indian casualties included 26 killed, seven missing and presumed dead, and 18 wounded, with their ammunition and baggage looted.^[27]

On 18 March, Colonel Thapa assembled a small force of two weakened platoons and set out to receive Brigadier Faqir Singh, as directed by Srinagar Headquarters. However, Thapa's group was ambushed by Gilgit scouts but managed to escape without any casualties. After advancing a bit further, they were informed by local villagers of the defeat of the relief column.^[14]

The fact that column had had to turn back after reaching so close to Skardu was most tragic. The tragedy was all the more heightened after it became known that the Skardu Garrison had sent out two platoons under Lieutenant Ajit Singh (accompanied by Major Thapa himself) towards Gol to receive the relief column half way, but unfortunately this was done on 18 March which happened to be a day too late.^[10]

— k. Brahma Singh

 

After the defeat of the relief column and the success of the Gilgit Scouts near Gol, the fleeing troops were pursued by Jamadar Ismail Khan^[f] and the Scouts, who also increased pressure on the Skardu garrison.^[28] As the retreating forces made their way to Kargil, they were attacked by both the Scouts and local Muslims, resulting in further casualties.^[25] The Gilgit Scouts, anticipating that reinforcements might be sent from Srinagar, intensified their efforts to capture Skardu swiftly before such reinforcements could arrive.^[3]

A machine-gun which wrought havoc on the Enemy was brilliantly manned by Havildar Muhammad Nazir. The success of the ambush and its extent may well be judged from what the Indians have themselves admitted in their account of the fighting in Kashmir, contained in the book "DEFENDING KASHMIR"^[6]

— Saraf

Both the Brigadier and the Major failed to follow the elementary principles of fire and movement tactics, and this failure proved very costly to the men of the column. The Brigadier who was also wounded handed over command to Major Coutts and returned to Srinagar. Thus ended the second attempt to reinforce Skardu.^[29]

— M. N. Gulati

Following the engagement, Major Ehsan strengthened his position by recruiting local youths and arming them with supplies captured from the relief force. With this increased strength, attacks on the Skardu garrison intensified, as did the shelling of the cantonment.^[16] On March 26, the Scouts launched a night attack on the Skardu garrison, resulting in heavy crossfire, though the outcome remained inconclusive.^[25] When Major Ehsan learned that further reinforcements, designated as Z Brigade and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kripal Singh were being dispatched to consolidate at Kargil, he decided to split his forces and send a contingent to Parkutta to counter this new threat.^[16]

A and B Companies of the 7th Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, led by Captains Davinder Singh and Durga Singh, were also ordered to reinforce the Skardu garrison.^[30] They joined Major Coutts and other members of the previous column at Kargil, advancing towards Parkutta to await reinforcements from the 5th Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.^[30] Lieutenant Babar Khan was left in charge of the Skardu siege while Major Ehsan departed for Parkutta on April 29.^[16] After Ehsan's departure, Babar Khan moved towards Ladakh, and the siege at Skardu continued under Colonel Mataul of Chitral. The Royal Indian Air Force also began providing support to the besieged forces at Skardu.^[31]

• Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948
• Kashmir conflict
• Siege of Skardu
• Gilgit-Baltistan
• 1947 Gilgit rebellion
• Operations in Ladakh