The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army that specialized in small unit tactics for border security, combat operations in difficult-to-reach and dangerous areas especially jungle and highest mountain, counterinsurgency in urban steep hill areas, frontline military intelligence gathering, maneuver warfare, and reconnaissance in jungle and highest mountain areas.
The regimental centre is in Srinagar's Airport Complex at Awantipora, with a winter setup near Jammu. Its regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed rifles. The regiment primarily consists of volunteers from Jammu and Kashmir, comprising ethnic groups from the region. 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. Naib Subedar Chuni Lal of the 8th battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is one of the most decorated personnel of the Indian Army.[2]
History
In response to the Pakistaniinvasion of Kashmir in 1947, local militias were raised to oppose the raiders. They included Home Guards in the Kashmir Valley, Militia and Nubra Scouts in Ladakh, Border Defence Scouts in Jammu 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.[2] In recognition of the services rendered, these volunteers were formed into the Jammu and Kashmir Militia on 15 April 1948.[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.[2]
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. 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.[2][4]
Class composition
The regiment has 50 percent Muslims and 50 percent other ethnic groups of Jammu and Kashmir.[2]
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.[6]
Units
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry marching contingent of the 11th Battalion passes through the Rajpath during the 65th Republic Day Parade, 2014
J&K Light Infantry does not have a RR battalion. Instead their troops are allocated to the other RR battalions for CI/CT ops as their troops are recruited locally from the J&K region, hence, they have 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
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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