Shaurya Saarthi
AI Assistant
The Battle of Hili, fought from 23 November to 11 December 1971, was one of the most intense and strategically significant battles of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Located near the present-day India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Dakshin Dinajpur district, Hili was a key junction controlling access to northern East Pakistan. Indian forces, led by the 20 Mountain Division, engaged in prolonged combat with the well-fortified Pakistan 4 Frontier Force, making it one of the longest conventional battles in the Eastern Theatre.
The Battle of Hili held immense military value during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, particularly in the Eastern Theatre. Hili was a strategically vital border town in the then East Pakistan, located near the Indian town of Hili in West Bengal’s Dakshin Dinajpur district. Its location controlled access to the key road networks leading to Bogura and Rangpur, making it a critical point for any advance into northern East Pakistan. The Pakistani Army had heavily fortified Hili, anticipating its importance, and positioned the 4 Frontier Force Regiment under Brigadier M. Hayat Khan to defend it. The Indian Army's 20 Mountain Division, led by Major General Lachhman Singh, launched repeated assaults on these fortified positions. Despite numerical and artillery advantages, Indian forces faced stiff resistance due to Pakistani bunkers, minefields, and well-coordinated counterattacks. Realizing that a direct assault would be costly, Indian commanders eventually bypassed Hili from the east, cutting off Pakistani supply lines and forcing a withdrawal. This maneuver proved crucial in breaking the northern defense line and facilitated India’s advance toward Bogura, contributing significantly to the rapid collapse of Pakistani control in the region. The battle demonstrated India’s operational flexibility and set the stage for the eventual liberation of Bangladesh.
Kolkata → Bardhaman → Malda → Balurghat → Hili
