CHANDIGARH: Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, the commander of the company of 120 soldiers of 23 Punjab Regiment that fought the famous "Battle of Longewala" in Rajasthan in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, died in Mohali on Saturday morning.

The recipient of the country's second-highest gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra , was diagnosed with blood cancer in August when he was in Canada . The 78-year-old, who had returned to India on November 10, breathed his last at 8.30am. Brigadier Chandpuri's cremation will be held with full military honours on Monday.

The Battle of Longewala was immortalised in J P Dutta's 1997 film "Border", with Sunny Deol playing Chandpuri.

Early on December 5, 1971, Pakistan launched a massive attack with its 51 Infantry Brigade, supported by T-59 and Sherman tanks, to capture Longewala and Ramgarh in Rajasthan. A 23 Punjab Regiment company, led by Chandpuri, then a Major, stayed put and beat back multiple attacks throughout the night.

