Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Eastern Command honours 1971 war hero Sepoy Krishna Jagdale
A long time ago, India and Pakistan had a war.
Because of that war, Bangladesh became its own country.
This year is the 55th anniversary of that war.
The Indian Army wants people to remember the soldiers who fought in it.
So the army shared the story of a very brave soldier named Sepoy Krishna Jagdale.
During the fighting, his company was getting shot at by the enemy.
Jagdale crawled forward, even though it was dangerous, and threw a grenade at a machine gun that was hurting his friends.
He stopped that machine gun and some others too.
For his bravery, he was given a special medal called the Vir Chakra.
His battalion fought many tough battles between December 4 and December 16, 1971.
In the end, the Pakistani soldiers surrendered, and the war was over.
Many soldiers were hurt or died, and we remember them for being brave.
Indian Army's Eastern Command paid tribute to Sepoy Krishna Jagdale, a Vir Chakra awardee, ahead of the 55th anniversary of the 1971 war with Pakistan.
As part of 5 Maratha Light Infantry, Jagdale silenced a medium machine gun bunker with a grenade and engaged enemy machine gun posts with his light machine gun.
At Suadih on December 4, 1971, a 'hand-to-hand' fight killed 28 enemy, while B Company suffered six killed and 16 wounded.
The war ended when Major General M A Ansari, GOC of Pakistan's 9 Infantry Division, surrendered on December 16, 1971, leading to Bangladesh's liberation.
The Battalion lost 20 soldiers and 46 wounded; awards included the Vir Chakra for Major Chatterjee, Naik Eknath Kardila and Sepoy Krishna Jagdale.
Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Torpy received the Vishist Seva Medal, Major Karumbaya and Sepoy Bajirao Jadhav the Sena Medal, and Sepoy Vithal Walkunj was Mentioned-in-Despatches.
- Who
- Indian Army's Eastern Command and the soldiers of 5 Maratha Light Infantry, including Sepoy Krishna Jagdale and Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Torpy
- What
- A tribute to Vir Chakra awardee Sepoy Krishna Jagdale and a detailed account of the battalion's battles and honours during the 1971 war
- When
- The war events occurred December 4-16, 1971; the tribute comes ahead of the 55th anniversary
- Where
- Kolkata and the Eastern Sector of India, including Suadih, Safdarpur, Elangi, Magura and Phulbari
- Why
- To honour the courage of soldiers in the 1971 war with Pakistan that led to the liberation of Bangladesh
- Occasion
- 55th anniversary of the 1971 war with Pakistan
- Honoured soldier
- Sepoy Krishna Jagdale, awarded the Vir Chakra
- Unit
- 5 Maratha Light Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Torpy
- Key battle
- Suadih, December 4, 1971 - hand-to-hand fighting left 28 enemy dead; B Company had six killed and 16 wounded
- Surrender date
- December 16, 1971, by Major General M A Ansari of Pakistan's 9 Infantry Division
- Other honours
- Vir Chakra: Major Chatterjee, Naik Eknath Kardila; Vishist Seva Medal: Lieutenant Colonel Torpy; Sena Medal: Major Karumbaya, Sepoy Bajirao Jadhav
- Battalion casualties
- 20 killed and 46 wounded