This great warrior made mission OP Hill possible

CHANDIGARH: The fighting spirit still reigns strong in 'great warrior' Brigadier Sant Singh, 94, who fought four wars in the last century and had the honour of being awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) - country's second highest gallantry award — twice.
He got it the first time in 1965 for wresting a strategic observation post in Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir from the Pakistani army in the face of heavy odds, making the impossible possible.
Brig Sant Singh, then a Lt Colonel and commanding officer of 5 Sikh Light Infantry, captured the strategic OP Hill taken over by the Pakistan army after the ceasefire in November 1965, where many others had failed. Though the war took place in August-September that year, many skirmishes took place even after the ceasefire.
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The Pakistan army had dug itself in at OP Hill, mined all routes and erected barbed wire meshes. Finally, it was decided to launch a brigade level attack and the 5 Sikh Light Infantry, which was deployed at Naushera, was moved to Mendhar to join the attack.
Unfazed by the artillery fire or the mines, the braveheart led his men to the target from a unthought-of route by climbing the vertical cliff face. His daring ascent took the enemy by surprise and they were vanquished in a close quarter combat.

Fifty years after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the Chandigarh-based veteran, who cannot hear and walk now, still exudes zest while recollecting the battle for OP Hill.
"This was a difficult feature and strongly defended by the enemy. Despite enemy mines and artillery fire, I moved with my men on the most difficult route, the battalion was new and its officers were very young and had little experience. I led them with the war cry of "Bole So Nihal" and they made the impossible task possible," said the veteran.
OP Hill had become a thorn in India's flesh as it gave the well-entrenched enemy an upper hand. The 5000 feet high hill dominated the road between Mendhar to Balnoi and its occupation by Pakistani troops isolated the infantry battalion at Balnoi. Pakistan forces also used it as a base for infiltration into Mendhar and Rajouri sectors. Earlier attempts to dislodge the enemy had failed and reconnaissance revealed that enemy was well positioned with support of artillery fire.
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But this proved no deterrent for the 5 Sikh LI CO. He led the assault at 10.30pm on November 2, 1965, with a ferocity that surprised the enemy. "It sounds unbelievable but we were just 25 yards from the enemy when they realized we were there. We had a hand to hand fight, cleared all bunkers and re-claimed the post. We suffered some casualties but that assault made a deep impact on the mind of Pakistan army about Sikh soldiers' bravery," the Brig added.
Saluting the bravery of the officer, the army named the Mendhar cantonment area as "Sant Singh Lines".
Born on July 12, 1921, Sant Singh joined the army in 1941 and fought World War-II in Assam and Myanmar. He got the MVC again for his role in 1971 Indo-Pak war.