Annihilation Of China's Moldo Garrison Was Certain If Clashes Had Erupted After India's LAC Offensive: Report

The annihilation of China's Moldo Garrison was certain after India's offensive action in the Spangur Bowl as the Indian forces had totally outnumbered and out-flanked the Chinese, Sunday Guardian has reported.

Col Danvir Singh (R) writes in the article that a top-secret offensive plan was given a go-ahead by 24 August when the newly inducted mountain strike corps were fully acclimatised in the weather.

The Indian troops had also identified the routes for its offensive and the tactical heights it was going to occupy. The whole operation was expected to be completed in 2 hours.

India had also positioned its artillery to provide covering fire for the troops if the need arose. Air defence troops too were placed on alert to swing into action in the event of a Chinese air offensive.

The Indian troops were targeting the Spangur Bowl which lies South of Pangong and east of Chushul. The main objectives were strategic heights like Black Top, Helmet, Magar and Gurung Hills stretching right up to Rezang La.

Finally on the day of the operations the Indian troops started a rapid advance on the hills. Some troops also drove to the foothills in mobility vehicles. Subsequently the Tibetian troops of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) occupied the hills well ahead of the 2 hour mark.

This is the first time in over five decades when India carried out an offensive action against the Chinese.

As a result of the operations an infantry brigade armed with anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers was holding the heights overlooking the Spangur Bowl.

By 31 August the Chinese garrison at Moldo was "virtually under siege".

The surprised Chinese in response mobilised their troops and advanced towards the India controlled heights but were thwarted by alert Indian troops. The Chinese reportedly returned again - this time with armoured personnel carriers on the road from Moldo to Rezang La.

This too resulted in a Chinese retreat as the report says, "The Indian troops were at a stone’s throw from the Moldo garrison, dominating each and every move of the PLA. The sight of anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers had deterred the move of the Chinese armoured personnel carrier and halted them in their tracks".

It adds that the Chinese had realised that they were both outnumbered and outflanked and any clash would have resulted in the annihilation of the Moldo garrison.

"The Chinese had realised by now that they were not only outnumbered but totally out-flanked, making their position untenable. Any armed clash hereafter would prove suicidal. The annihilation of Moldo garrison was assured for the Chinese had clashes erupted", the report adds.