When in the 1971 war, India's dreaded bandit Balwant Singhcaptured 100 villages of Pakistan

 

Following the terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in J&K'sPulwama on 14 February, Chambal's dacoit Malkhan Singh demanded the government to send him to the border without paying him anything. In a fit of rage, Malkhan assured that his gang will blow Pakistan away. The 'unreal' demand by bandit Malkhan Singh before the Government although seems to be an act of revenge from the enemy, a similar incident did happen during the 1971 war when a bandit not only fought against the enemy along with the Indian Army, but also captured over 100 villages of  Pakistan.

 

Balwant Singh, a dacoit, resident of village Bakhasar in Barmer district of Rajasthan had captured over a hundred villages of Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. During the Indo-Pak war in 1971, the Barmer region on the Rajasthan border was being commanded by Colonel Bhavani Singh, who with his troops had reached the Bakhasar area. However, due to the Thar Desert on the battlefield, it was not easy for the Indian Army to find easy routes to move forward like Pakistan. It was at this moment when Colonel Bhavani Singhremembered Balwant Singh Bakhasar, the dacoit of Bakhasar, and asked him for help. Bandit Balwant Singh was a dreaded dacoit at that time, well-known in the100-km radius on both sides of the Indo-Pak border. Well versed with the border, Balwant Singh knew all possible roads and trails made in the sea of sand as he also used to travel to Chhochro region of Pakistan. When asked for help by Brigadier Colonel Bhavani Singh during the ongoing war between Indo-Pak, while demonstrating patriotism and utmost bravery, dacoit BalwantSingh took up arms to march towards Pakistan and along with the army marched towards Pakistan. The Indian Army handed over a battalion and 4 Jonga Jeeps to bandit Balwant Singh. This battalion did not have tanks, but in front, was a tank regiment of Pakistan. However, Balwant Singh and the battalion acted cleverly and took out the silencers of the Jonga Jeep so that the Pakistani Army would believe that the Indian Army was moving with tanks. At the same time, Balwant Singh and the Indian Army giving a major blow to Pakistan took over 100 villages in the vicinity, including Pakistan's Chhachro checkpoint.