When 120 Men Killed Over 1,000 Chinese Soldiers At 18,000 Feet To Save Leh
Stories Of Glory Major Shaitan Singh directing his men at Rezang La top Over 60 years ago, the sounds of bullets and bombs roared in Ladakh when the Chinese, after illegally occupying Aksai Chin, set their sights on other areas in Ladakh, including Chushul, the gateway to Leh. ORBAT To safeguard Leh, the defense of Chushul was also crucial, and the 114 Infantry Brigade (Inf Bde) under Brigadier TN Raina (later General) was tasked with defending the Chushul airfield. Nestled at over 14,000 feet, the defense of Chushul is vital to halt any Chinese advance along the Kailash Range. A flat 3 km-wide patch of land called the Spanggur Gap is an ideal place for the movement of tanks and mechanized infantry. Spangurr Lake is the only region in Ladakh where India's official border and the Chinese illegally claimed line run very close. The Order of Battle (ORBAT) for 114 Inf Bde at Chushul was as follows: 1/8 Gorkha at the North Flank of Spanggur Gap, 1 Jat Light Infantry at Gompa, Thakung He