The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was the first regiment that was raised in independent India and was formed by amalgamating various voluntary resistance groups from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir to beat back the raiders in 1947-48. It specialises in small unit tactics for border security, combat operations in difficult-to-reach and dangerous areas - especially jungle and mountainous areas, counterinsurgency in urban steep hill areas, frontline military intelligence gathering, manoeuvre warfare, and reconnaissance in jungle and mountainous areas.
In response to the Pakistaniinvasion of Kashmir in October 1947 (Operation Gulmarg), local militias were raised to oppose the raiders.[2] They included National Home Guards in the Kashmir Valley, Leh Scouts and Nubra Guards in Ladakh, Border Defence Scouts in Jammu, Bal Sena and Banmanush in Naushera, and Punch Scouts in Punch.[3] The militias were a paramilitary force under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and operated on the Line of Control.[4] They volunteers were organised initially into platoons and companies in late 1947 and early 1948, and later on into 14 battalions of the Jammu and Kashmir Militia on 15 April 1948. Officers from the Indian Army were posted into these battalions.[3] Following the Sino-Indian War of 1962, in 1 June 1963, the 7th and 14th Battalions of the J & K Militia were spun off to form the 1st battalion of the Ladakh Scouts.[4]
The militias conducted themselves with great distinction during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and earned 3 battle honours during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The troopers of the force felt strongly that they wanted the dignity and privileges of a regular army unit, especially keeping in mind their performance and sacrifice in the recent wars.[5] Keeping this in mind, the then head of the J & K Militia, Brigadier Lekhraj Singh Puar of the Garhwal Rifles, who was on deputation to the Ministry of Home Affairs from the Indian Army, prepared and presented plans to the Ministry of Home Affairs for conversion of the militia into regular unit on his own initiative. These efforts bore fruit, and in 1972, the J & K Militia was converted to a full-fledged Army regiment as the Jammu and Kashmir Militia under the Ministry of Defence. Brigadier Puar went on to become the first Colonel of the Regiment. In 1976, the regiment was renamed as the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.[4][2]
Class composition
The regiment has 50 percent Muslims and 50 percent other ethnic groups of Jammu and Kashmir.[4][6]
Regimental Insignia and Traditions
Regimental Crest
The original regimental insignia consisted of two crossed muskets mounted by a plough and a scroll below with the words 'JAMMU KASHMIR MILITIA'. The insignia was later changed to move the plough below the crossed muskets and above the scroll. The present insignia has only the crossed muskets, with a scroll below and the words 'JAK LIGHT INFANTRY'.
Uniform
The present uniform of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry includes a black lanyard on the left shoulder and the shoulder title 'JAKLI' over a scarlet background. They traditionally wear black rank badges and buttons, as the original purpose of the rifle regiments was camouflage and concealment.
The green beret (common to all infantry units in India) has the regimental crest on a scarlet diamond base stitched to the beret. The red and black regimental turban is worn by personnel during ceremonial occasions, parades, on guard duty and by those in the regimental band.
Colours
The regimental colours are red and black.
Regimental motto and war cry
The regimental motto is 'Balidanam Vir Lakshanam' (बलिदानं वीरलक्षणम्), which translates to 'Sacrifice is a characteristic of the Brave'.[7] The war cry of the regiment is 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' (Victory to Mother India).
The 14th and 7th Battalions of the J&K Militia were deployed in the Ladakh sector under 114 Infantry Brigade, the former was positioned in the northern part of the sector, including areas like Daulat Beg Oldi and the Chip Chap River, while the 7th J&K Militia covered the southern part.[9] In this extremely harsh terrain and climate, the troops were spread over numerous small outposts with long distances between them. When the Chinese offensives hit in mid October 1962, many of those posts manned by 14 J&K Militia were heavily shelled, attacked and isolated. On 22 October, the brigade ordered the withdrawal. After the withdrawal by 23 October, fighting in that sector ceased until the cease-fire in November 1962.[10]
During the conflict, the Jammu and Kashmir Militia displayed exceptional bravery and professionalism. The 8 J&K Militia fought in the Chhamb sector of Jammu and Kashmir and played a significant role in preventing enemy capture of strategic ground despite the fall of the Mandiala bridge.[11] It was awarded the Battle Honours of 'Laleali' and 'Picket 707', the 9 J&K Militia received the Battle Honour of 'Shingo River Valley', and the 11 J&K Militia earned the Battle Honour of 'Gutrian'. In recognition of their gallant actions, the soldiers and officers of the J&K Militia Regiment were conferred with a total of 28 gallantry awards - seven Vir Chakras, ten Sena Medals, two Vishisht Seva Medals, and nine Mention-in-Despatches.[12]
In 1984, units of the JAK LI were deployed to the Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot. The 8th battalion (8 JAK LI) earned great honour by capturing a Pakistani post at 21,000 feet on the Siachen Glacier in 1987. Naib Subedar Bana Singh earned the Param Vir Chakra for the regiment in this battle. He is the first and so far only recipient of the PVC for the regiment.[1] Major (later Brigadier) V.S. Minhas and 2Lt. Rajiv Pande won a Vir Chakra for gallantry displayed during the same engagement.
In 1999, JAK LI earned honours in the Kargil War. The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to the 12th battalion for their exceptionally gallant and sterling performance during the battles of Point 5203 on the night of 10/11 June 1999 and Point 4812 on the night of 30 June/1 July 1999 in Batalik. The overall performance of the battalion during Operation Vijay was exceptional and marked with exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.[13]
The force headquarters of the Jammu and Kashmir Militia was established on 15 April 1948 at Haft Chinar in downtown Srinagar city. This was later converted into a regimental centre. It was later shifted to its present location at Damodar Karewa, Rangreth in the outskirts of Srinagar in 1993.[16][17] An additional training centre exists at Dansal in Jammu district.[18]
Units
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry marching contingent of the 11th Battalion passes through the Rajpath during the 65th Republic Day Parade, 2014
Raised as First Battalion, Border Scouts in Poonch. Designated 8 Jammu and Kashmir Militia on 15 April 1948. Re-designated as 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry on 27 Apr 1976. Theatre honour J & K 1971, Battle honours Laleali and Picquet 707. Distinguished unit to have produced recipients of both the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra.
Theatre honour J & K 1971, battle honour Shingo River Valley.
10th Battalion
Re-raised 28 September 1984
Towering Tenth
11th Battalion
17 May 1948
Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Kapil Dev Pachnanda at Moti Mahal, Poonch by assorting the sub-units of the erstwhile Poonch Scouts. Theatre honour J & K 1971, battle honour Gutrain.
Raised at Hamirpur Sidhar from the Jammu and Border Defence Scouts by Lieutenant Colonel Bhag Singh MC. Theatre honour Kargil 1999 and Battle honour Batalik.
Unlike other infantry regiments, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry does not have a Rashtriya Rifles (RR) battalion. Instead, their troops are allocated to the other RR battalions for counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations, as their troops are recruited locally from the J & K region. Hence, they have the knowledge of the local terrain, language (customs and traditions) and knowledge of militants’ modus operandi, which is very valuable resource. They also help interface between locals and the RR battalions as translators and communicators.
Distinctions
The regiment getting its colours from the President Mr KR Narayanan
Shingo River Valley, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[4]
Gutrian, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Batalik, Indo-Pak War of 1999
Gallantry Awards
Though one of the younger infantry units of the Indian Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is considered to be one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army, having received one Param Vir Chakra and three Ashok Chakra. Two of the most decorated soldiers are Naib Subedar Chuni Lal of the 8 JAK LI, who was decorated with Sena Medal (Gallantry), Vir Chakra and finally with Ashoka Chakra posthumously, and Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani who was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry twice, before being posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.[4]
The following personnel of the JAK LI, have received the highest honours for gallantry. The symbol 'ϯ' indicates that the decoration was awarded posthumously.
The President, Mr K. R. Narayanan, presented the colours to the regiment at its regimental centre on 9 October 1998.[84]
Affiliations
The regiment was affiliated with INS Ganga till her decommissioning in March 2018. In April 2018, the regiment was affiliated with INS Kochi, a stealth guided-missile destroyer and 51 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, which is based in Srinagar.[85] The regiment was affiliated with 223 Squadron (Tridents) of Indian Air Force, based in Srinagar on 26 September 2023.[86]
1 2 Gaylor, John (1992). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. p.289. ISBN978-0-946771-98-1.
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