Vintage tank recovered from Ravi river

Vintage tank belonged to British forces recovered from Ravi river

An unclaimed old and rusted war-tank was recovered from river Ravi near Lakhanpur in district Kathua today.

The tank, over 95% buried under the debris at the right bank of river Ravi near Golden Gates in Lakhanpur area, was detected by a village boy, who happened to pass that side. He informed the matter to local junk dealer telling that huge piece of iron was lying at the river side. When two-three persons were engaged in removing the iron piece from debris, they came to know that it was not merely piece but a huge war tank. They ran away in panic sensing trouble and informed the matter to local police at Lakhanpur late last evening.

The matter then came to the notice of SSP Kathua J L Sharma and Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Zahida Khan. They contacted Army authorities. Officials from various intelligence agencies also reached the spot. It was earlier, indicated that it could be Pakistani tank, may be abandoned during 1965 or 71 war or washed away in flood and then buried under the debris.

The Army officers from Mamoon Cantt and also from local Kathua unit rushed to the area and cordoned it. The Army experts were also called. They started digging operation using machines and man power under the supervision of GOC Rising Star Corps Lt Gen A K Choudhary and Brig J K Sharma Commander 21 Sub Area and managed to extricate the rusted and old ‘unclaimed tank’, abandoned at the river bank at around 9 am. It was hurriedly lifted with cranes, placed on a ‘large tralla’ and taken to Mamoon Military Station. A large number of local villagers had gathered at a distance to watch the operation but they were restricted by Armymen and police deployed there to go closer to the site.

SSP Kathua, J L Sharma, said that police also coordinated the operation and had directed the concerned SHO last evening not to allow any civilian movement closer to the tank side and also deployed some cops there. He said the villagers earlier informed Police Station Lakhanpur and the party was sent to examine the site. After conformation the matter was taken up with the Basohli Morh located Brigade headquarters in Kathua.

A Defence spokesman from 9 Corps of the Western Army Command claimed that due to rust and being so old, the chasis number could not be traced. He refused to own that this tank belonged to Indian Army. He also refuted the villagers/ public claim that tank belonged to Pakistan. He, however, said the tank which was apparently looking like a huge iron structure without any colour, emblem, insignia and broken canon was found to be Vintage tank.

It was believed by the Defence experts that this tank was of Vintage series of the British Army, probably used in between 1938 and 1946 in operations/ wars in the un-divided India in Punjab area and might have gone washed away and thus missing. However, more facts are being ascertained about this mystery.