Battle of Gazipur The Battle of Gazipur was a battle that took place between the advancing Mitro Bahini ( comprising Mukti Bahini and Indian Army ) and the defending 22 Baluch Regiment of the Pakistan Army between 4th and 5 December 1971 in the Bangladesh liberation war . The site of the battle was the Gazipur Tea estate near Kalaura , Sylhet District of what was then East Pakistan . This battle was a prelude to the Battle of Sylhet . 4 / 5 December 1971 . By 27 November 1971 evening 4 / 5 Gurkha Rifles ( Frontier Force ) had fortified themselves at Kadamtal , a place closer to the border opposite the Kalaura / Maulvi Bazar Sector of the Sylhet Division of East Pakistan . Small - scale attacks were to be employed to capture territory . The 59th Mountain Brigade was to operate , as part of the 8th Mountain Division plan , in tandem , possibly for thrust to Sylhet . The area had rolling hills with tea gardens dotting the area along the border . Further west , inside East Pakistan , low hills obscured any observations beyond them , had provided an excellent defensive and observation point into the Indian side of the border . The hills tapered just East of Kalaura and the plains of the Sylhet division started from here . Kalaura was a communications centre and rail head ten kilometres in depth , was connected to Maulvi Bazar ; along the axis Dharmanagar - Gazipur - Maulvi Bazar - Sylhet . Objectives . The task given to the 8 Mountain Division was at this stage was : Pakistan ’ s 313rd Infantry Brigade , part of Pakistan ' s 14th Infantry Division , was located at Maulvi Bazar . Its 202 Infantry Brigade had moved to Sylhet , while its third brigade was covering Bhairab Bazar and the Ashuganj area further south . The 22 Baluch was defending the area ear Sagarnal , Gazipur , Kalaura , and Juri with additional company each of Scouts and EPCAF . One of this battalion ' s companies was deployed along the Dharmanagar - Juri axis with couple of border posts . Border Out Post of a platoon plus strength of regular troops and EPCAF at Sagarnal , a company at Gazipur with about a platoon each of Scouts and EPCAF , battalion headquarter at Kalaura and remainder troops at Maulvi Bazar . Thing not known at that time was that 22 Baluch had additional Reconnaissance and Support elements which had tremendously augmented firepower of their defences . Indian 59 Mountain Brigade Plan envisaged capture of Sagarnal Border Out Post by 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles { Frontier Force } as preliminary operations . The 9th Guards were to capture Juri , and the 6th Rajput was to capture Gazipur and advance up to Kalaura . 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles { Frontier Force } as reserve for 6 Rajput operation and further task to be given as the battle progressed . It was planned that once Kalaura was secured , operations of both brigades of the division will be coordinated . The attack . At Gazipur , Dharmanagar – Kadamtal – Sagarnal – Gazipur – Kalaura road passed through the area dominated by Gazipur Tea Factory Manager ’ s Bungalow and heights to the Southeast . The row of tea plantation created a maze and these alleys were covered by automatic fire . To its North was high ground with good observation of the area , bunkers around it and characterized by Banana Plantation and called Kela - Ka - Bagicha . On 3 December 1971 around 2100 hours , 6 Rajput attacked Gazipur but met with stiff resistance . An odd hour before first light it was apparent that the attack had failed and it was too late to employ reserves . At this stage 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles { Frontier Force } was warned for task for the capture of Gazipur next night ; 4 / 5 December 1971 . Day of 4th was utilized for reconnaissance . With the attack launched the previous night , the Pakistanis were sensitive in the area , and had reorganized their defences to prepare for any an attack from any direction . They were supported by artillery guns . The appreciated deployment of Pakistan ’ s 22 Baluch Company plus at Gazipur was ; Kela - Ka - Bagicha ; Platoon with section of Scouts ; Manager ’ s Bungalow , Platoon with section Scouts and MMG ’ s ; Factory , Company Headquarter with a platoon , Scouts and Reconnaissance and Support elements . The Pakistani defences were based on built up area and well prepared bunkers . 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles { Frontier Force } planned capture of localities in phases ; Kela - Ka - Bagicha by Delta Company ; Manager ’ s Bungalow by Alfa Company ; Factory by Bravo and Charlie Company ; CO 2 { Shyam Kelkar } was made overall commander of Factory assault by B and C Company . Delta Company led the move to the objective . By about 2030 hours the advancing column reached the height immediately North of Kela - Ka - Bagicha and Pakistanis opened up with artillery , MMG and LMG ’ s . It was almost simultaneously that the company charged at about 2045 hours . Apparently Pakistanis had got wind of the attack at the last minute and their reaction was violent . During the hand to hand fighting casualties occurred . Delta did its bit , captured Kela - ka - Bagicha . However , Company commander was injured during the attack . The next objective Manager ’ s Bungalow had literary been turned into a fortress with bunkers strewn around the area . The firing was on fixed lines , covering available gaps in the tea plantation rows and the approach from Kela - Ka - Bagicha . Because of loss of radio contact Alfa Company progress was not known and as such Bravo Company was tasked to capture Manager ’ s Bungalow . Alfa Company didn ’ t know about Bravo Company being employed in its place from the planned direction . Luckily Alfa ’ s had taken a slight detour and angled with thrust on the rear side while Bravo targeted it from Kela - Ka - Bagicha side . Casualties were suffered which included Coy Commander of Bravo Company but not before Manager ’ s Bungalow had been captured . There , however , was one outstation silent ; that of CO 2 { Major Shyam Kelkar } . Well along the direction and path of attack CO 2 { Major Shyam Kelkar } had led the attack , was struck with a bullet and had died on the spot . The last and decisive phase of attack on the Tea Factory can best be narrated in the words of the Commanding Officer { Late Brigadier A B Harolikar , MVC } : Aftermath . Finally the Gazipur Tea Estate location had been captured and with this attack the command and control of 22 Baluch was split , the battalion headquarters slipped away from Kalaura , as 4 / 5 Gorkha Rifles { Frontier Force } advanced to Kalaura and occupied it on 6 December 1971 . The Pakistani ’ s had suffered heavy casualties ; 15 dead Pakistani soldiers were found on the objective at Gazipur , and the Pakistanis carried away at least 15 of their dead and approximately 40 wounded . The Indians too had paid a heavy price ; one officer - CO 2 { Major SG Kelkar } and 10 other ranks killed , 4 officers ( Jassi Rawat , Viru Rawat , Sahrawat and Y . Bharat ) , two JCOs ( Including Delta Senior JCO Subedar Bal Bahadur Thapa ) and 57 other ranks injured .