Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, the Hero of the Battle of Longewala, passed away, today. He died at a private hospital near Mohali, Punjab at the age of 78.
Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was one of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Longewala (1971,) which took place between India and Pakistan. He fought against a contingent of Pakistani soldiers with only 120 soldiers. Brigadier Chandpuri was known as the Hero of the Battle of Longewala as he bravely led the Indian soldiers against the Pakistani Patton tanks.
The Battle of Longewala took place on the 5th of December, 1971, when Pakistan launched an attack to capture Longewala and Ramgarh in Rajasthan. The Pakistani army, with a squadron of T-59 Sherman tanks, attacked India overnight. The 120 army soldiers posted there fought hard against Pakistan’s soldiers.
Border, a Bollywood movie which released in the year 1997, was based on the Battle of Longewala. In the movie, Sunny Deol played the role of Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri.
Brigadier Chandpuri served in the Indian Army for a long time. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC,) India’s second highest gallantry award, for his bravery during the Battle of Longewala.
Brigadier Chandpuri’s cremation will take place after his second son returns from Germany.