Galaja 1992 resistance

Galaja 1992 resistance
Part of the Bosnian War
Date 14 May – 3 June 1992 Location Vrhpolje, Sanski Most Result Tactical ARBiH victory Kljuc-Sana battalion transported to Bihać
Belligerents
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Republika Srpska
Commanders and leaders
Arif Hukanovic Amir Avdic Nevzad Djeric Kedjo	Branko Basara Milan Škondrić Drago Samardžija
Units involved
Ključ-Sana battalion	6th Light Sana Infantry Brigade 3rd Petrovac Light Infantry Brigade 17th Ključ Light Infantry Brigade
Strength
200 soldiers	1,000+ soldiers

The territorial defense of Vrhpolje had a military review on 15 April in 1992. There were around 300 soldiers in the review and the commandant of the unit was Arif Hukanovic. In the village of Vrhpolje, a group of Bosniaks didn't want to surrender. They didn't want to surrender their weapons, but they defended their villages. The hodza, Emir Seferovic was captured in a house and he was tortured and later killed.

Battle

14–15 May

On 14 and 15 May the first clash between the territorial defense of Vrhpolje and the much stronger Army of Republic of Srpska happened. The territorial defense of Vrhpolje offered strong resistance to the enemy force and the enemy forces were forced to withdraw. The enemy suffered casualties and it is assumed that a dozen enemy soldiers were thrown out of the line in that battle.

27 May

The newly formed Kljuc-Sana battalion under the commandant Amir Avdic blocked the Sanski Most-Kljuc road on the entrance of the village Gornji Ramici. The blockade was done by the Vrhpolje people under the command of Arif and Ifet Hukanovic.

3 June

The Army of the Republika Srpska started an attack on the Kljuc-Sana battalion with the goal to destroy the resistance. The whole 6th Sana, Kljuc and Petrovac brigade participated in the attack. One part of the Kljuc-Sana unit with around 150 soldiers was deployed in part of the Galaja forest and the other part with around 50 soldiers held its course in the canyon of the river Sanica. The soldiers which controlled the Galaja forest captured 40 enemy soldiers and 5 officiers. After long negotiations which lasted over 24 hours, they were transported to Bihac and the enemy soldiers were freed. 144 soldiers from Sana and Kljuc entered Bihac and they joined the fighters of Cazinska Krajina.

Legacy

This victory is celebrated every year in Vrhpolje (Sanski Most). Flowers will be laid on the memorial plaque of Said Karenović in Vrhpolje, and by reciting the fatiha, honor will be paid to this hero who was the first to resist the enemy.