Latest news with #DuryodhanaMohanty
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
1971 war veteran from Odisha's Kendrapara praises Operation Sindoor
KENDRAPARA: For 75-year-old Duryodhana Mohanty, memories of 1971 have come rushing back. And as a war veteran, Operation Sindoor has provided him joy the native of Barunadiha village under Kendrapara's Rajkanika block. Mohanty, who fought against the Pakistani Army in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, said, 'A lot of water has flown under the bridge since the 1971 war. The introduction of missiles and drones in Operation Sindoor has changed the nature of warfare. We are proud that many missiles were earlier tested in the Integrated Test Ranges (ITR) on Dr Abdul Kalam Island and Chandipur in Odisha.' Mohanty, who joined the Indian Army in 1970 at the age of 20, served in the 14th Battalion Brigade of The Guards during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. He recalled intense frontline combat across Bangladesh - from Habiganj and Laskarpur to Ajmiriganj, Tongi Junction, and ultimately Dhaka. 'We crossed the border from Agartala into East Pakistan on December 1, 1971. The battles were fierce. We used self-loading rifles, mortars, rocket launchers, anti-tank guns, cannons, howitzers, tanks, and machine guns. The maximum range of our guns was just about a kilometre,' he said. The veteran recalled Indian Air Force deployed MiG-21s, Hawker Hunters, Folland Gnats, and English Electric Canberra bombers to great effect. 'We fought alongside the Mukti Bahini, destroyed enemy tanks, and pushed the Pakistani troops back all the way to Dhaka,' he added. After serving the Indian Army for 32 years, including participation in Operation Meghdoot (1984), the mission to secure the Siachen Glacier, Mohanty retired in 2002. During his career, he was posted in Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Kanpur, Kashmir, and Pune. He currently draws a monthly pension of Rs 41,000. Back in his village, Mohanty remains active in public life. He was elected sarpanch of Barunadiha gram panchayat three times - first in 2007, then in 2012, and again in 2022. He could not contest in 2017 due to reservation of the seat for SC candidates. Mohanty lives with his wife and extended family in Barunadiha. His eldest son, Amit, is also a former Indian Army soldier, while his younger son, Arjit, serves in Odisha Police.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor a courageous step: 1971 war veteran
1 2 3 Kendrapada: Duryodhana Mohanty , a 75-year-old war veteran from Barunadia village in Kendrapada district, has called Operation Sindoor against Pakistan a "courageous step".Mohanty, who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war , noted the contrast between modern warfare technology and conventional weapons used five decades ago. "The use of missiles and armed drones for Operation Sindoor has changed warfare completely," said on his wartime experience, Mohanty recalled using basic equipment like self-loading rifles, mortars and howitzers during the 1971 conflict. "The maximum gun range then was just about a km," he said, comparing it to advanced missile systems now, many of which were tested at the integrated test ranges on Dr Abdul Kalam Island and Chandipur in a soldier of the 14th Battalion of Brigade of The Guards, Mohanty participated in crucial battles from Habiganj to Dhaka. "We crossed the border from Agartala to reach East Pakistan on Dec 1, 1971," he recalled. The seventeen-day war resulted in numerous casualties, including eight soldiers from his witnessed the surrender of Pakistani forces under General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, to the allied forces led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora on Dec 16, 1971. "It was a proud moment for us. We celebrated the victory by dancing with Mukti Bahini on the streets of Dhaka," he said, displaying his war serving 32 years in the Army, including participation in Operation Meghdoot to secure the Siachen glacier in 1984, Mohanty retired in 2002. He currently serves as the sarpanch of Barunadia gram panchayat, having won the post for the third time in veteran now lives with his family in the village, drawing a monthly pension of Rs 41,000. His eldest son Amit is an ex-soldier, while his younger son Arjit serves in Odisha police.
