Defence of Kamalpur

Defence of Kamalpur
	Part of the Bangladesh Liberation War
Date	14 November – 4 December 1971
Location	Kamalpur-border area in Northern Bangladesh
Result	First Attack: Pakistani victory; Second Attack: Bangladeshi-Indian victory
Belligerents
Bangladesh; India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Major Abu Taher; Brigadier Hardev Singh Kler; Maj Gen Gurbax Singh (WIA)	Captain Ahsan Malik
Units involved
Sector XI, Mukti Bahini; 95 Brigade Group; Indian Air Force;	31 Baloch Company;
Strength
2,000 soldiers; Unknown number of MiG-21 aircraft;	30 Pakistan Army soldiers; 30-40 Paramilitary; Total: 60-70 men
Casualties and losses
46 killed; 113 wounded	2 killed ; 3 wounded

The Defence of Kamalpur was a second battle fought over Kamalpur near the border between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Kamalpur, a hamlet on the border, was defended by 60-70 regular and paramilitary Pakistani soldiers under the command of Captain Ahsan Malik.

The company-sized Pakistani unit fought against a brigade of Indian soldiers and Mukti Bahini as the Indian military made several unsuccessful attempts to overrun the Pakistani positions.^[3]

After defending the area for 21 days, the besieged Pakistani troops were ordered by their superiors to surrender.^[4] The defending Pakistani troops suffered hardly any casualties, despite being subjected to repeated Indian artillery bombardment and air strikes.^[2]

Then Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Sam Manekshaw sent a personal congratulatory message to Captain Malik, commending him for his successful defense against the odds.^[5] Maj. Gen. Gurbux Singh also wanted to meet Malik personally, but was wounded by a mine on his way to Kamalpur.^[4]

^ A. S. M. Nasim 2002, p. 255
^ ^a ^b Sukhwant Singh 1980, p. 190: "He had put up a courageous stand throughout the siege and had surrendered after holding a brigade of besiegers for 21 days with a company strength of a mixture of Regulars, Rangers and Razakars totalling about 140 men. Hardly any casualties had been suffered as a result of the Indian artillery bombardment and air strikes."
^ Sukhwant Singh 1980, p. 188: "The third attack met the same fate. The failure of two successive attacks and the resultant casualties dispirited the attacking troops, and the higher command developed second thoughts about Kler's ability to handle live operations."
^ ^a ^b Brian Cloughley 2006, p. 179
^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Nasim2002-1] A. S. M. Nasim 2002, p. 255

[light-2] Sukhwant Singh 1980, p. 190: "He had put up a courageous stand throughout the siege and had surrendered after holding a brigade of besiegers for 21 days with a company strength of a mixture of Regulars, Rangers and Razakars totalling about 140 men. Hardly any casualties had been suffered as a result of the Indian artillery bombardment and air strikes."

[unsuccessful-3] Sukhwant Singh 1980, p. 188: "The third attack met the same fate. The failure of two successive attacks and the resultant casualties dispirited the attacking troops, and the higher command developed second thoughts about Kler's ability to handle live operations."

[Cloughley2006p179-4] Brian Cloughley 2006, p. 179

[:0-5] Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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