564:, commanding D Company of 4 KUMAON, led the patrol. The patrol proceeded as planned without incident till the time came for withdrawing from Badgam. Sharma was ordered to fall back one company at a time, one company at 1400 hrs and he along with his company at 1500 hrs. At 1430 hrs, the movement of tribals was seen to the West and near Badgam village. Sharma correctly surmised the movement in Badgam village was meant to divert attention while the attack would come in from the west. The Lashkar attacked from the West. Sharma's company was soon surrounded by the enemy from three sides and sustained heavy casualties from the ensuing mortar bombardment. Sharma realized the importance of holding onto his position as both the city of Srinagar and the airport would be vulnerable if it were lost.
226:
236:
215:
196:
137:
176:
157:
124:
516:
Gulmarg route, a
Lashkar of 700 raiders was known to be approaching Badgam but no contact had been made with it. The Lashkar would soon be in a position to seize the airfield and block the induction of Indian troops by air. Alternatively, they could bypass the Patan defenses from the south and reach Srinagar unhindered.
543:
decided to send a strong fighting patrol to the hills overseeing Badgam village 5 km west of it. The task of the patrol was to search the area in the vicinity of Badgam and the area between Badgam and Magam for signs of the infiltrating
Pakistanis. The patrol was to comprise two companies of the
605:
were moved to Badgam. They occupied blocking positions to secure the airfield. Now at night they waited. The airfield was still vulnerable. Yet, the
Lashkar tribal forces failed to make a good opportunity to capture the airfield. The reason being the Khurshid, the leader of Laskar was injured which
502:
posthumously for his actions. The Indian Air Force served as an accompaniment to the army's efforts in the battle, contributing to the majority of the casualties inflicted on the
Pakistani lashkars.However the tribal forces would successfully raid badgam and defeat the indian company at badgam and
515:
The battle took place at a point when Indian troops had just begun their fly-in into
Srinagar airfield during the opening stages of the war. The Lashkar were advancing along three axes – North of Wular lake, along the main Muzzafarabad-Baramula-Patan-Srinagar axis, and from Gulmarg. Along the
633:
The fierce resistance of Sharma's company had caused 200 casualties to the raiders. Also, the tribal leader of the
Lashkar had a bullet through his leg. The Pakistani raiders made no attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities that night and move to the airfield or to
570:
Under heavy fire and outnumbered seven to one, he urged his company to fight bravely, often exposing himself to danger as he ran from post to post. Despite the forward two platoons falling, Sharma desperately clung to his position with the depth platoon.
519:
At that moment, only a weak brigade of Indian troops, withdrawn from refugee protection duties in Punjab and hastily airlifted, stood between groups of tribal
Lashkars advancing towards Srinagar. Indian troops were deployed only at Srinagar airfield,
594:
and 26 wounded. The resistance of 4 Kumaon had halted the
Lashkar Tribal advance after taking heavy losses.The Lashkar tribal forces suffered heavy casualties. 200+ tribal forces killed along with their 2 officers, 2 JCOs and 320+ tribesman wounded.
642:
recaptured Badgam securing airfield and caused the raiders to abandon their advance. This also bought time for additional Indian troops to fly into the
Srinagar airport the next day, reorganize and block all routes of ingress to Srinagar.
1000:
296:
1021:
Here they successfully raided and dispersed an Indian infantry company inflicting in the process an extremely heavy loss on the
Indians in terms of men killed including the Indian Company commander Major Somnath
1258:
638:
city. It is surmised that the incapacitation of the leader, the heavy losses, and reports of movement of 1 Punjab into the area had caused the Lashkar raiders to misjudge the tactical situation. Later
1228:
289:
548:(4 KUMAON), reinforced with a company from the regiment's 1st battalion (1 KUMAON). The 1 KUMAON company was tasked to patrol ahead of Badgam by bounds, and link up with 1st Battalion,
927:
282:
1233:
574:
While he was busy fighting the enemy, a mortar shell exploded on the ammunition near him. His last message to Brigade HQ received a few moments before he was killed was:
1248:
552:(1 PUNJAB) at Magam after which it would return by road. If no contact was made, the 4 KUMAON companies would fall back one by one, vacating Badgam at 1400 hrs.
432:
427:
778:
693:
610:
recaptured Badgam and secured the airfield and the remaining Lashkar tribal forces had to abandon their advance as heavy casualties occurred on their side.
438:
1154:
1205:
490:
numbering around 1000, who had apparently occupied Badgam. The battle drew its significance from the success of the solitary company of 4th Battalion,
1078:
359:
901:
1238:
1190:
1010:
788:
717:
674:
487:
401:
381:
349:
578:"The enemies are only 50 yards from us. We are hopelessly outnumbered. I will not withdraw one inch but fight to the last man last round."
32:
598:
Brigadier Sen then ordered a reorganization of the defenses. 1 PUNJAB was ordered to vacate Magam immediately and fall back to Srinagar.
1129:
59:
1050:
844:
754:
590:
posthumously for inflicting at least 22 casualties. At the end of the battle, Indian casualties were 15-22 killed including. Major
475:
423:
306:
235:
973:
540:
873:
65:
225:
626:
repelled the enemy advance. For his courageous "last man, last round" stand, Maj Sharma was posthumously awarded the
498:, in halting the momentum of advancing tribal "Lashkars", though being heavily outnumbered. Sharma was awarded the
214:
1253:
1243:
639:
607:
602:
549:
1002:
The 14 Month Battles for Kashmir: The Longest and Least Read and Known Indo Pak War Fought Over a Vast Area
807:
567:
The Indian air forced played a major role in the battle, and caused the majority of Pakistani casualties.
386:
200:
371:
583:
707:
329:
504:
406:
376:
180:
528:. A detachment of Mahraja's Bodyguard (State Forces cavalry) reconnoitered North of Wular Lake.
952:
1186:
1046:
1006:
840:
784:
750:
713:
670:
536:
418:
692:
The term "lashkar" in this context means a group of a thousand tribals of one ethnicity from
627:
499:
483:
471:
344:
229:
184:
165:
1185:(2nd ed.). New Delhi: KW Publishers in association with Centre for Air Power Studies.
669:(2nd ed.). New Delhi: KW Publishers in association with Centre for Air Power Studies.
619:
587:
545:
491:
396:
354:
339:
334:
219:
55:
1209:
623:
591:
561:
495:
467:
161:
1222:
503:
later infiltrate towards shalateng north of srinagar, with another decesive called
696:, armed by Pakistani Army and encouraged to infiltrate and raid Kashmir for booty.
586:
attacked the enemy fearlessly before losing his life. Dewan Singh was awarded the
274:
1180:
1040:
1016:
834:
744:
664:
479:
80:
67:
1155:"Major Somnath Sharma – First Param Vir Chakra Awardee | India of the Past"
635:
195:
142:
902:"Battle of Budgam: Pakistanis Failed Effort to Secure Srinagar Airfield"
478:. The skirmishes took place on 3 November 1947 between a company of the
525:
463:
630:, Independent India's newly instituted highest award for gallantry.
1079:"Tributes Pour In For Major Somnath Sharma On Battle Of Badgam Day"
1042:
Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947–49
688:
686:
521:
175:
156:
129:
1130:"Frontline Hero: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam"
974:"Frontline Hero: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam"
278:
1182:
An incredible war: Indian Air Force in Kashmir War 1947–1948
1104:"Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Sep Dewan Singh, MVC @ TWDI"
666:
An incredible war: Indian Air Force in Kashmir War 1947–1948
1103:
896:
894:
1259:
Aerial operations and battles of the Indo-Pakistani wars
874:"Maj Somnath Sharma, PVC (P) and The Battle of Badgam"
836:
Slender Was the Thread: Kashmir Confrontation 1947–48
746:
Slender Was the Thread: Kashmir Confrontation 1947–48
606:dithered on further course of action. Afterwards,
928:"1947 Indo-Pak war: what the Bucher papers show"
1005:. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
777:Cardozo, Major General Ian (31 December 2003).
25:
1229:Battles of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948
1208:on "Maj Somnath Sharma, PVC (Posthumous)" on
462:was a defensive encounter that took place at
290:
8:
1128:Raina, Dr Shiben Krishen (14 August 2023).
1073:
1071:
1069:
867:
865:
863:
839:. New Delhi: Orient Longman. p. 308.
749:. New Delhi: Orient Longman. p. 308.
318:
297:
283:
275:
22:
1234:Operations involving the Indian Air Force
1034:
1032:
1030:
795:bodies of over 300 tribesmen were counted
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
16:Battle between India and Pakistan in 1947
1045:. New Delhi: Vision Books. p. 174.
953:"Major Somnath Sharma PVC – Honourpoint"
652:
1249:Military operations involving airports
658:
656:
7:
618:Despite heavy losses the company of
14:
582:Spurred by his gallantry, Sepoy
234:
224:
213:
194:
174:
155:
135:
122:
780:Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle
308:Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948
33:Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
783:. Roli Books Private Limited.
253:Unknown amount of IAF Aircraft
1:
1039:Sinha, Lt. Gen. S.K. (1977).
539:, newly arrived commander of
474:during the initial stages of
1239:November 1947 events in Asia
999:Amin, Agha (18 March 2017).
926:Ray, Ashis (25 March 2023).
872:Harpreet (3 November 2017).
694:North West Frontier Province
833:Sen, Maj Gen L. P. (1969).
743:Sen, Maj Gen L. P. (1969).
1275:
1134:Daily Good Morning Kashmir
808:"Defence of Srinagar 1947"
706:Whitehead, Andrew (2007),
560:On 3 November 1947, Major
486:, and a tribal lashkar of
1212:. Accessed 6 August 2010.
316:
260:
243:
206:
148:
115:
38:
30:
712:, Penguin, p. 156,
266:15-22 killed, 26 wounded
324:Gilgit-Baltistan Sector
1179:Kumar, Bharat (2014).
1159:www.indiaofthepast.org
663:Kumar, Bharat (2014).
601:At Evening, troops of
580:
149:Commanders and leaders
906:Indian Defence Review
812:Indian Defence Review
576:
544:4th battalion of the
476:the First Kashmir War
413:Agreements-Resolution
261:Casualties and losses
105:Tribal advance halted
1019:on 27 January 2024.
709:A Mission in Kashmir
624:Major Somnath Sharma
541:161 Infantry Brigade
1210:Indian Army website
614:Aftermath of battle
505:Battle of Shalateng
81:34.0179°N 74.7256°E
77: /
537:Brigadier L.P. Sen
1192:978-93-81904-52-7
1012:978-1-5447-3836-9
814:. 17 January 2023
790:978-93-5194-029-6
719:978-0-670-08127-1
676:978-93-81904-52-7
488:Pakistani raiders
451:
450:
446:
445:
419:Karachi Agreement
273:
272:
111:
110:
60:Jammu and Kashmir
1266:
1254:1947 in aviation
1213:
1203:
1197:
1196:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1151:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1140:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1100:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1089:
1075:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1036:
1025:
1024:
1015:. Archived from
996:
990:
989:
987:
985:
980:. 13 August 2023
970:
964:
963:
961:
959:
949:
943:
942:
940:
938:
923:
917:
916:
914:
912:
898:
889:
888:
886:
884:
869:
858:
857:
855:
853:
830:
824:
823:
821:
819:
804:
798:
797:
774:
768:
767:
765:
763:
740:
723:
722:
703:
697:
690:
681:
680:
660:
628:Param Vir Chakra
584:Dewan Singh Danu
556:Battle of Badgam
500:Param Vir Chakra
484:Indian Air Force
472:Srinagar Airport
458:Battle of Badgam
424:UNSC Resolutions
372:Poonch Rebellion
319:
311:
309:
299:
292:
285:
276:
238:
230:Indian Air Force
228:
217:
199:
198:
189:
179:
178:
170:
160:
159:
141:
139:
138:
128:
126:
125:
92:
91:
89:
88:
87:
86:34.0179; 74.7256
82:
78:
75:
74:
73:
70:
40:
39:
26:Battle of Badgam
23:
1274:
1273:
1269:
1268:
1267:
1265:
1264:
1263:
1244:Budgam district
1219:
1218:
1217:
1216:
1204:
1200:
1193:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1153:
1152:
1148:
1138:
1136:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1112:
1110:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1087:
1085:
1077:
1076:
1067:
1057:
1055:
1053:
1038:
1037:
1028:
1013:
998:
997:
993:
983:
981:
972:
971:
967:
957:
955:
951:
950:
946:
936:
934:
925:
924:
920:
910:
908:
900:
899:
892:
882:
880:
878:Harpreet's Blog
871:
870:
861:
851:
849:
847:
832:
831:
827:
817:
815:
806:
805:
801:
791:
776:
775:
771:
761:
759:
757:
742:
741:
726:
720:
705:
704:
700:
691:
684:
677:
662:
661:
654:
649:
616:
588:Maha Vir Chakra
558:
550:Punjab Regiment
546:Kumaon Regiment
534:
513:
494:, led by Major
492:Kumaon Regiment
454:
453:
452:
447:
382:Tribal invasion
312:
307:
305:
303:
269:200- 300 killed
251:
239:Tribal lashkars
222:
220:Kumaon Regiment
218:4th Battalion,
193:
185:
173:
172:
166:
154:
136:
134:
123:
121:
85:
83:
79:
76:
71:
68:
66:
64:
63:
62:
56:Budgam district
46:3 November 1947
17:
12:
11:
5:
1272:
1270:
1262:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1221:
1220:
1215:
1214:
1198:
1191:
1171:
1146:
1120:
1095:
1065:
1051:
1026:
1011:
991:
965:
944:
918:
890:
859:
845:
825:
799:
789:
769:
755:
724:
718:
698:
682:
675:
651:
650:
648:
645:
615:
612:
592:Somnath Sharma
562:Somnath Sharma
557:
554:
533:
530:
512:
509:
496:Somnath Sharma
468:Kashmir Valley
449:
448:
444:
443:
442:
441:
436:
430:
421:
410:
409:
404:
399:
394:
389:
384:
379:
374:
366:Kashmir Sector
363:
362:
360:Duck and Bison
357:
352:
347:
342:
337:
332:
317:
314:
313:
304:
302:
301:
294:
287:
279:
271:
270:
267:
263:
262:
258:
257:
254:
246:
245:
241:
240:
232:
209:
208:
207:Units involved
204:
203:
201:Khurshid Anwar
191:
162:Somnath Sharma
151:
150:
146:
145:
132:
118:
117:
113:
112:
109:
108:
107:
106:
101:Inconclusive
98:
94:
93:
54:
52:
48:
47:
44:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
20:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1271:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1226:
1224:
1211:
1207:
1202:
1199:
1194:
1188:
1184:
1183:
1175:
1172:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1147:
1135:
1131:
1124:
1121:
1109:
1105:
1099:
1096:
1084:
1080:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1054:
1052:81-7094-012-5
1048:
1044:
1043:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1018:
1014:
1008:
1004:
1003:
995:
992:
979:
975:
969:
966:
954:
948:
945:
933:
929:
922:
919:
907:
903:
897:
895:
891:
879:
875:
868:
866:
864:
860:
848:
846:0-86131-692-4
842:
838:
837:
829:
826:
813:
809:
803:
800:
796:
792:
786:
782:
781:
773:
770:
758:
756:0-86131-692-4
752:
748:
747:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
725:
721:
715:
711:
710:
702:
699:
695:
689:
687:
683:
678:
672:
668:
667:
659:
657:
653:
646:
644:
641:
637:
631:
629:
625:
621:
613:
611:
609:
604:
599:
596:
593:
589:
585:
579:
575:
572:
568:
565:
563:
555:
553:
551:
547:
542:
538:
531:
529:
527:
523:
517:
510:
508:
506:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
470:close to the
469:
465:
461:
459:
440:
437:
434:
431:
429:
425:
422:
420:
417:
416:
415:
414:
408:
405:
403:
400:
398:
395:
393:
390:
388:
385:
383:
380:
378:
375:
373:
370:
369:
368:
367:
361:
358:
356:
353:
351:
348:
346:
343:
341:
338:
336:
333:
331:
328:
327:
326:
325:
321:
320:
315:
310:
300:
295:
293:
288:
286:
281:
280:
277:
268:
265:
264:
259:
255:
252:
250:50-70 troops
248:
247:
242:
237:
233:
231:
227:
223:
221:
216:
211:
210:
205:
202:
197:
192:
190:
188:
182:
177:
171:
169:
163:
158:
153:
152:
147:
144:
133:
131:
120:
119:
114:
104:
103:
102:
99:
96:
95:
90:
61:
57:
53:
50:
49:
45:
42:
41:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
1201:
1181:
1174:
1162:. Retrieved
1158:
1149:
1137:. Retrieved
1133:
1123:
1111:. Retrieved
1107:
1098:
1086:. Retrieved
1082:
1056:. Retrieved
1041:
1020:
1017:the original
1001:
994:
982:. Retrieved
978:hindupost.in
977:
968:
956:. Retrieved
947:
935:. Retrieved
931:
921:
909:. Retrieved
905:
881:. Retrieved
877:
850:. Retrieved
835:
828:
816:. Retrieved
811:
802:
794:
779:
772:
760:. Retrieved
745:
708:
701:
665:
632:
617:
600:
597:
581:
577:
573:
569:
566:
559:
535:
518:
514:
460:
457:
455:
412:
411:
391:
387:Muzaffarabad
365:
364:
323:
322:
249:
212:
186:
167:
116:Belligerents
100:
18:
958:10 December
532:Patrol plan
482:, aided by
480:Indian Army
181:Dewan Singh
84: /
1223:Categories
1164:6 December
1139:7 December
1113:1 November
1088:7 December
984:30 January
937:9 December
911:6 December
883:7 December
818:9 December
647:References
72:74°43′32″E
69:34°01′04″N
1022:Sharma18.
932:Frontline
407:Shalateng
377:Rawalakot
256:~1000 men
1083:NDTV.com
1058:4 August
852:4 August
762:4 August
640:1 Punjab
636:Srinagar
620:4 Kumaon
608:1 Punjab
603:1 Punjab
511:Backdrop
439:Acession
244:Strength
143:Pakistan
51:Location
31:Part of
1108:twdi.in
466:in the
187:†
168:†
1189:
1049:
1009:
843:
787:
753:
716:
673:
622:under
526:Pattan
464:Badgam
402:Poonch
392:Bagdam
345:Thorgo
340:Skardu
330:Gilgit
183:
164:
140:
127:
97:Result
1206:Entry
522:Magam
397:Pandu
355:Eraze
335:Tsari
130:India
1187:ISBN
1166:2023
1141:2023
1115:2022
1090:2023
1060:2010
1047:ISBN
1007:ISBN
986:2024
960:2023
939:2023
913:2023
885:2023
854:2010
841:ISBN
820:2023
785:ISBN
764:2010
751:ISBN
714:ISBN
671:ISBN
524:and
456:The
43:Date
350:Leh
1225::
1157:.
1132:.
1106:.
1081:.
1068:^
1029:^
976:.
930:.
904:.
893:^
876:.
862:^
810:.
793:.
727:^
685:^
655:^
507:.
433:80
428:47
58:,
1195:.
1168:.
1143:.
1117:.
1092:.
1062:.
988:.
962:.
941:.
915:.
887:.
856:.
822:.
766:.
679:.
435:)
426:(
298:e
291:t
284:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
