On every anniversary, much is written and remembered about the victory in the 1971 Bangladesh war. Although the accolades are well-deserved, many of the special operatives’ achievements have been relegated to the shadows where they remain to this day. One such organization is the Special Frontier Force (SFF), which consists of Tibetan volunteers.
SFF was, perhaps, destined to remain in the shadows in relation to its exploits in 1971. Army men received no gallantry awards and were only given cash rewards for their exploits. Major General SS Uban, who raised and led the SFF, does not mention in his book, Phantoms of Chittagong-The Fifth Army in Bangladesh that the SFF forces included Tibetans. He mentions their origins only obliquely, saying that the SFF arose from “remote northern hill tribes” after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and mentions their extraordinary lung capacity, which gave them a great advantage in high-altitude warfare.
With such secrecy surrounding them, the exploits of the SFF’s Tibetan fighters in the Chittagong Hill Tracts remain largely unknown to the average Indian.
SFF exploits in East Pakistan
As the events of 1971 unfolded, the Tibetans of Establishment 22, as the SFF was initially called, were well trained. They became experts in mountain and jungle warfare and in the use of all types of weapons from mortars to rocket launchers. Many became qualified paratroopers. Vainly waiting for an opportunity to fight the Chinese, now they will have a chance to prove their mettle, as well as their gratitude and loyalty to India for giving them a home and occupation.
The spirit of the Tibetan volunteers at that time is reflected in the documentary Tibet Guerrillas in Exile—India’s Secret Army produced by Loma Films. Lama Kunchok, an SFF veteran who fought in Bangladesh, speaks in the documentary about his determination to fight for Tibet’s independence from China and “throw dust in the eyes of the enemy”, but he uses every ounce of his will as he is unable to fulfill that wish. Because of his fighting spirit for the defense of India. It was a feeling that was found in abundance among the Tibetans of Uban SFF.
He knew where their special skills in guerrilla, hill and jungle warfare could be used in the Chittagong hills.
Pakistani irregular forces and Mizo insurgents were already active from the Chittagong Hill Tracts and targeting Indian forces in the Northeast. If the unforgiving terrain of these hilly areas could be successfully controlled by the SFF, not only would the vulnerable part of the Indian Army’s advance into Bangladesh be secured, but it would also cut off the Arakan Road, which could be used by Pakistani troops to escape. fled to Burma.
General Uban discussed these plans with Army Chief General Maneksha, who was favorably inclined to use the SFF in this unorthodox role. Uban also requested in writing that SFF troops be allowed to participate in any future operations against Pakistan. And thus the stage was set for the SFF’s heroic and historic role in Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts consist of dense, impenetrable forests, numerous streams, river banks knee-deep in mud, and stretches of marshland, with hardly any demarcated tracks. Operating in this treacherous terrain required a high level of fitness, which the SFF Tibetans achieved, as did the Indian Army officers chosen to lead them. Moving from one point to another in that area was a time-consuming obstacle course and required careful advance planning. On top of these difficulties was the problem of weather – the Chittagong Hill Country was subject to frequent severe storms, which could cause extensive damage to equipment as well as make the land more difficult to navigate.
Three columns of the SFF were tasked with operations in the hilly areas. One would encircle Chittagong via the Arakan road, the second would encircle Chittagong via the Kaptai Dam-Chittagong road and the third would encircle Chittagong via the Rangmati-Chittagong road. had a goal.
The Kaptai Dam was the main objective of the SFF as envisioned by Major General Uban and his team. He discussed this with General Maneksha, who wanted to destroy the dam as it was a major source of power for East Pakistan. The resulting flooding of the forest would have made it very difficult for the Pakistani Army to conduct any meaningful operations in the region and to have neglected their offensive potential in the hilly areas.
As mentioned above, cutting the Arakan road was also of prime importance, as it was expected that the Pakistani army would want to use this road to escape into Burma after seeing defeat inevitable. The Arakan Road runs from Dhaka to Chittagong and then to Cox’s Bazar and Burma.
‘Too Little to Get’
However, when Uban received final orders from army headquarters about the tasks assigned to the SFF, he was not happy – he thought his troops had been given too little to achieve. According to the order issued to him, the SFF is going to blow up Kaptai Dam and some bridges which are important links in road communication. His forces were also supposed to “hit” Pakistani Army formations located in the region and prevent their effective employment against Indian Army formations opposing them.
Realizing that the full potential of his SFF forces would not be achieved by these orders, Uban pleaded with his men to provide additional objectives, which included the capture of the port of Chittagong. The port was an important installation and was the place where all supplies by sea arrived in the Pakistani Army’s theater of operations.
However, Army HQ realized that since the SFF lacked direct artillery and air support, it was not possible to capture Chittagong through guerrilla operations alone. There was a substantial Pakistani army and navy presence at the port, which required air and artillery attacks on the areas they were defending.
Uban argued that he would induct 1,000 SFF troops into Chittagong and ensure that around 2,000 Mujib Bahini volunteers in the city would also rise to support the SFF. The original orders stand for now.
After receiving the final approval named Operation Eagle, General Uban began moving the SFF to the border region of Mizoram opposite the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Troops were moved there by air and ground. Uban made Demagiri his headquarters and three other places – Marpara, Bornapaansuri and Jarulchari – where the SFF columns would be based.
Guerrilla forces are supposed to be cut off from the main body of the army and operate to stay on the ground. This was actually done by the SFF forces. With no helicopter flights available to supply food, many were forced to survive the day on what fish they could catch from the river. There were instances when SFF columns attacked Pakistani positions on a half-empty stomach and captured them. Not only did this achieve the strategic objectives of the commanders, but the captured Pakistani positions also provided much-needed rations to the SFF. The SFF’s successes eventually led it to surround the town of Rangmati, a major Pakistani military stronghold, and the force finally entered the town to a rousing civilian reception. Pakistani forces fled the city leaving behind large quantities of fuel, arms and ammunition.
A possible Pakistani retreat to Burma using the Arakan Road was no longer possible after the SFF destroyed the bridge at Dohazari and established its dominance over the Sangu River. According to Major General Uban, this was one of the major factors that forced Lt. Gen. AAK Niazi, the commander of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army in the Bangladesh Theater, to surrender unconditionally to the Indian Army on December 16, 1971.
At the end of the war, 29 medals were awarded to SFF officers who participated in Operation Eagle. Indian Army soldiers participating in operations with them have received 6 Veer Chakras, five Distinguished Service Medals, five Army Medals, 11 Medals, one Param Vishish Seva Medal and one Very Distinguished Service Medal.
The Tibetan soldiers of the SFF did not receive any gallantry awards as it was a clandestine force. According to an estimate, 56 Tibetans were killed and around 150 were injured in Operation Eagle. More than 500 Tibetans received cash awards for their bravery in battle. A war memorial at Chakrata lists the names of all those who laid down their lives in the 1971 Bangladesh operation.
Dalai Lama inspecting troops of SFF. Photo Courtesy: Property of Major General SS Uban
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