The 44th anniversary of the ‘Battle of Phillora’ in the 1965 Indo-Pak war was commemorated at a solemn function held at the Black Elephant Cenotaph at Patiala on Friday.

Major General S H Kulkarni,General Officer Commanding,Black Elephant Division,laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in homage to the martyrs. Senior officers,JCOs and other ranks were also present at the ceremony,where the ceremonial guard reversed arms and the buglers sounded the Last Post.

Maj Gen Kulkarni said the offensive against Pakistan was launched in the Sialkot sector on the night of September 7 and 8,1965,and Phillora was captured on September 11.

“The battle was hard fought with over 400 tanks slugging it out in an area of 50 square kilometres. A total of 165 enemy tanks were destroyed by the Indian Army in the charge. Five officers and 64 other ranks of the Indian Army laid down their lives. Among them was Lt Col A B Tarapore,who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra,the country’s highest award for gallantry,” he added.