This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2017) |
Jammu and Kashmir Rifles | |
---|---|
Active | 1821 – present |
Country | India |
Branch | Indian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Infantry |
Size | 22 battalions |
Regimental Centre | Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh |
Motto(s) | Prashasta Ranvirta ("Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy") [1] |
War Cry | Durge Mata Ki Jai ("Victory to Mother Durga") [1] |
Decorations | See below |
Commanders | |
Colonel of the Regiment | Lieutenant General MP Singh, YSM, SM [2] |
Insignia | |
Regimental Insignia | An oval embracing the Sun, the State emblem. The Sanskrit inscription around the Sun, which cannot be read on the regimental insignia above, translates as, "Ever Victorious in War" [1] |
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947, the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army. They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state's accession to India. Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army. [3] In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. After the conversion, the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment, where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002. [4]
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment traces its origin to the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir.Maharaja Gulab Singh, of the first ruler of Jammu and Kashmir raised this Force in 1820 at Jammu. The earlier exploits of the Regiment includes the annexation of the entire Hill Region of Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. General Zorawar Singh, who had joined the State Forces in 1823 assisted in expansion of the state's territory to include Ladakh, Baltistan, Tibet, Gilgit, Yasin, Darel, Hunza Nagar, Chilas and Chitral between 1834 and 1895.
A major portion of the state forces participated in the First World War. The Regiment saw action in the East Africa, Palestine and Mesopotamia and won the Battle Honours of Megiddo, Nablus, Kilimanjaro, Behobeho, Palestine and Sharon. The Regiment was honoured with a total of 31 decorations.
Immediately after the First World War, the 1st Jammu and Kashmir Mountain Battery and 1 Jammu and Kashmir Infantry participated in the Third Afghan War and were awarded 23 Meritorious Service Medals.
The Regiment saw action in Burma where 23 of its person were decorated. Two Battle Honours, Kennedy Peak and Meiktila were awarded to the Regiment.
The greatest trial of the Regiment came immediately after independence when Pakistan invaded Kashmir. All nine Battalions of the Regiment (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) were strung over 500 miles of the frontier form Kathua in the South to Leh in the North, who displayed dogged tenacity, unflinching loyalty, exemplary courage and devotion to duty unparalleled in history. A total of 18 Officers, 37 Junior Commissioned Officers, 1194 Other ranks and 34 Non Combatants laid their life in the service of the motherland and the regiment was awarded with two Maha Vir Chakras (including the first Maha Vir Chakra of Independent India awarded to Late Brigadier Rajinder Singh), 18 Vir Chakras and 52 Mentioned in Despatches.
On 18 March 1956 a large force of Pakistan Regiment Army launched an uprovoked attack against 4 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles then deployed to guard Husainiwala Headworks. During the clash the enemy suffered heavy casualties and the Unit was awarded one Ashok Charka, one Kirti Chakra and one Shaurya Chakra.
Due to its valiant actions over the years including 1947-48 operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Regiment was amalgamated enbloc into the Indian Army on 15 January 57 without any dilution in rank structure and came to be known as Jammu and Kashmir Regiment. In February 1963, the Regiment was redesignated as Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
Two of the eight Battalions of the Regiment (2 and 3 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) participated in 1962 war with China, wherein three Officers, 82 Other Ranks and eight Non Commissioned Employees made supreme sacrifice of their life in Bomdila Sect and the Regiment was awarded with one Mentioned-in-Despatch.
Seven of the eleven Battalions of the Regiment(3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) participated in 1965 war, wherein seven Officers and 167 men attained martyrdom in the line of duty and was the Regiment awarded with the Battle Honour of ASAL UTTAR (by 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) in Khem Karan Sect and Theatre Honour PUNJAB. Five persons of the Regiment were decorated.
All the 14 Battalions (1 to 14 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) of the Regiment participated in the 1971 War both at the Eastern and Western front wherein 76 Brave Soldiers of the regiment laid their life and the Regiment was awarded with the Battle Honour of 'SYAM GANJ' (1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) and Theatre Honour East Pakistan during the liberation of Bangladesh. 12 person of the Regiment were awarded with gallantry.
13, 14 and 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 28 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion and Ladakh Scouts took part in Operation Vijay (Kargil war). In recognition of the ecceptional account given by 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in the capture of its objectives the unit has been awarded the Battle Honours of DRAG and MUSHKOH along with the Theater Honour of KARGIL. The following honours were awarded to the Battalions of the Regiment :-
(i) | Param Vir Chakra | 02 |
(ii) | Vir Chakra | 08 |
(iii) | Yudh Seva Medal | 02 |
(iv) | Sena Medal | 16 |
(v) | COAS Commendation Card | 08 |
(vi) | Unit Citation & 'BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE' honour to 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
(i) | Ladakh | 1834-40 |
(ii) | Baltistan | 1840 |
(iii) | Tibet | 1841 |
(iv) | Gilgit | 1860 |
(v) | Yasin | 1863 |
(vi) | Darel | 1866 |
(vii) | Hunza Nagar | 1891-92 |
(viii) | Chilas | 1893 |
(ix) | Chitral | 1895 |
(x) | East Africa 1914-17 | 1914-17 |
(xi) | East Africa 1916-18 | 1916-18 |
(xii) | Megiddo (WW-I) | 1914-18 |
(xiii) | Beho-Beho (WW-I) | 1914-18 |
(xiv) | Nablus (WW-I) | 1914-18 |
(xv) | Sharon (WW-I) | 1914-18 |
(xvi) | Kilimanjaro (WW-I) | 1914-18 |
(xvii) | Palestine (WW-i) | 1918 |
(xviii) | 3rd Afghan War | 1919-20 |
(xix) | Kennedy Peak(Burma Front, WW-II) | 1944 |
(xx) | Meiktila (Burma Front, WW-II) | 1945 |
(i) | Poonch (J&K Ops) | 1947-48 |
(ii) | Skardu (J&K Ops) | 1947-48 |
(iii) | Jammu & Kashmir 1947-48 | 1947-48 |
(iv) | Asal Uttar (Khem Karan) | 1965 |
(v) | Syam Ganj | 1971 |
(vi) | Drass | 1999 |
(vii) | Mushkoh | 1999 |
(viii) | Kargil | 1999 |
(i) | East Africa | 1914-17 |
(ii) | East Africa | 1916-18 |
(iii) | Burma | 1942-45 |
(i) | 1942-45 | |
(ii) | Jammu & Kashmir | 1947-48 |
(iii) | Punjab | 1965 |
(iv) | East Pakistan | 1971 |
(v) | Kargil | 1999 |
S No | Gallantry Awards | No of Awards |
---|---|---|
(i) | Param Vir Chakra | 02 |
(ii) | Ashok Chakra | 02 |
(iii) | Padma Bhushan | 01 |
(iv) | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | 10 |
(v) | Maha Vir Chakra | 05 |
(vi) | Kirti Chakra | 11 |
(vii) | UttamYudh Seva Medal | 03 |
(viii) | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | 21 |
(ix) | Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | 03 |
(x) | Vir Chakra | 44 |
(xi) | Shaurya Chakra | 49 |
(xii) | Yudh Seva Medal | 17 |
(xiii) | Sena Medal | 336 |
(xiv) | Bar to Sena Medal | 04 |
(xv) | Vishisht Seva Medal | 68 |
(xvi) | Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal | 02 |
(xvii) | CDS Commendation Card | 07 |
(xviii) | Mentioned-in-Despatches | 85 |
(xix) | COAS Commendation Card | 749 |
(xx) | VCOAS Commendation Card | 100 |
(xxi) | Army Cdr's Commendation Card | 889 |
(xxii) | CISC Commendation Card | 04 |
Total | 2412 |
(i) | Param Vir Chakra :- Captain Vikram Batra (posthumous) 13th Battalion - Kargil, 1999. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13th Battalion - Kargil, 1999 |
(ii) | Ashok Chakra :- Second Lieutenant Cyrus Addie Pithawalla, 17 Battalion - Manipur, 1981 Lance Naik Sundar Sing, 4th Battalion - Jammu and Kashmir, 1956 |
(i) | 1 JAK RIF | 2006 |
(ii) | 2 JAK RIF | 1993 |
(iii) | 3 JAK RIF | 2015 |
(iv) | 4 JAK RIF | 1993 & 2021 |
(v) | 6 JAK RIF | 1992 |
(vi) | 10 JAK RIF | 1992 |
(vii) | 12 JAK RIF | 2006 |
(viii) | 13 JAK RIF | 1999 (Bravest of the Brave) |
(ix) | 14 JAK RIF | 2022 |
(x) | 15 JAK RIF | 2004 & 2010 |
(xi) | 17 JAK RIF | 1994 |
(xii) | 19 JAK RIF | 2006 |
(xiii) | 20 JAK RIF | 2008 |
(xiv) | 3 RR Bn (JAK RIF) | 1995, 2020 & 2022 |
(xv) | 28 RR Bn (JAK RIF) | 1999 & 2016 |
(xvi) | 52 RR Bn (JAK RIF) | 2011 |
(i) | 1 JAK RIF | 2008 |
(ii) | 4 JAK RIF | 1993 |
(iii) | 6 JAK RIF | 2017 |
(iv) | 19 JAK RIF | 2022 |
(v) | 26 JAK RIF (CDO) | 2024 |
1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment), often referred to as the 1st Gorkha Rifles, or 1 GR in abbreviation, is the most senior Gorkha Infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising Gurkha soldiers of Indian Gorkha or Nepalese nationality, especially Magars and Gurungs, hill tribes of Nepal. It was originally formed as part of the East India Company's Bengal Army in 1815, later adopting the title of the 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment), however, in 1947, following the partition of India, it was transferred to the Indian Army and in 1950 when India became a Republic, it was redesignated as 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment). The regiment has a long history and has participated in many conflicts, including many of the colonial conflicts prior to Indian independence, as well as the First and Second World Wars. Since 1947 the regiment has also participated in a number of campaigns against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 as well as undertaking peacekeeping duties as part of the United Nations.
The 11th Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army that was re-raised after independence. The regiment consists of primarily the Kirant Tribes Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar of Eastern Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars of West Bengal, Sikkim and other parts of Northeast India. Though it is considered to be the youngest of the Gorkha regiments its lineage is as long as those of the 7th Gurkha Rifles and 10th Gurkha Rifles.
The Jat Regiment also known as The Royal Jats is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, of which it is one of the longest-serving and most decorated regiments. The regiment has won 19 Battle Honours between 1839 and 1947, and post-independence it has won Five Battle Honours, including 3 Ashok Chakra, 2 Victoria Cross, 2 George Cross, 13 Kirti Chakra, 8 Mahavir Chakra, 3 Military Medal, 53 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Vir Chakras and 343 Sena Medals. During its 200-year service history, the regiment has participated in various actions and operations in India and abroad, including the First and the Second World Wars. Numerous battalions of the Jat Regiment, including the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers, fought in the First World War.
5th Gorkha Rifles, also abbreviated as 5 GR(FF) is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of the British Indian Army. The regiment's battalions served in the First World War (Mesopotamia) and Second World War.
The Parachute Regiment is an airborne and special forces regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1945 as part of the British Indian Army but was disbanded after World War II and was re-raised in 1952 as part of the Indian Army. Currently it consists of fifteen Special Forces, two Territorial Army and one Rashtriya Rifles battalions.
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars, and is one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
The Punjab Regiment is the second oldest regiment still in service in the Indian Army, and is the most senior regional infantry regiment. It was formed from the 2nd Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army in 1947 and has taken part in various battles and wars since, winning numerous honours for the same.
The Madras Regiment is the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian Army, originating in the 1750s as a unit of the British East India Company. The regiment took part in numerous campaigns with the British Indian Army and the post-independence Indian Army. The Madras Regiment primarily recruits from the erstwhile Madras state and the kingdom of Mysore. However, the 9th and 16th battalions were later formed from troops from the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin in present day Kerala.
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regimental center 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 mostly consists of volunteers from the state of Jammu & Kashmir and ethnic groups from the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is considered to be one of the most decorated regiment of the Indian army having won 1 Param Veer Chakra and 3 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.
The Garhwal Rifles, are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.
The Assam Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment consists of 25 battalions: 15 regular battalions, 3 Rashtriya Rifles battalions, 5 Territorial Army battalions & 2 Arunachal Scouts battalions. It recruits exclusively from all the eight Northeastern states of India.
Colonel Chewang Rinchen MVC & Bar, SM was a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army from the Union territory of Ladakh. He was the youngest ever recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest Indian gallantry decoration, for his role in the defence of Ladakh in the First Kashmir War. He received the Maha Vir Chakra for a second time after Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, for his role in the conquest of the Turtuk and Tyakshi, in what came to be known as the Battle of Turtuk. He was one of only six Indian service personnel to have the Maha Vir Chakra twice. He was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry in the 1962 India-China War. and Mention in dispatches for gallantry in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
At the time of Indian Independence in 1947, as per the terms of the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement, six Gorkha regiments, formerly part of the British Indian Army, became part of the Indian Army and have served ever since. The troops are mainly from ethnic Gurkha communities of Nepal. A seventh Gorkha Rifles regiment was re-raised in the Indian Army after Independence to accommodate Gorkha soldiers of the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles who chose not to transfer to the British Army.
The 8th Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1824 as part of the British East India Company and later transferred to the British Indian Army after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The regiment served in World War I and World War II, before being one of the six Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence in 1947. Since then it has served in a number of conflicts including the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Today the 8th Gorkha Rifles is one of the most celebrated regiments of the Indian Army, having received numerous citations for bravery in the field of battle, and even producing one of the two field marshals of India, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, of the Indian Army.
The Naga Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It is among the youngest regiments of the Indian Army - the first battalion was raised in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand in 1970. The regiment recruits mainly from Nagaland, in northeast India.
The Bihar Regiment is an Indian Army infantry regiment. It traces its origins back to the British Indian Army. The Bihar Regiment was formed in 1941 by regularising the 11th (Territorial) Battalion, the 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and raising new battalions. The Bihar Regimental Centre (BRC) is located at Danapur Cantonment, Patna, the second oldest cantonment of India. INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's largest ship and one of its two aircraft carriers is affiliated to the Bihar Regiment, Indian Army's highly decorated and battle-hardened unit.
Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons consisting of Shock troopers these are present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.
The Ladakh Scouts is a mountain infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed as the "Snow Warriors" or "Snow Leopards". The regiment specializes in cold-weather warfare and mountain warfare, long-range penetration, maneuver warfare, raiding with small unit tactics, and reconnaissance in difficult to reach and dangerous terrain. Its primary role is to guard India's borders in the high altitudes of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, assuming office from Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on 1 February 2020. He last served as the Chief of staff of the Northern Command, assuming the office from Lt Gen SK Sharma. Previously, he was the commander of Leh based Fire & Fury Corps. As Army Commander he is credited with spearheading the Indian response to PLA's attempt to alter the status quo on Line of Actual Control (LAC) by use of force. He is the only war decorated Army Commander who has to his credit successes against both Indian adversaries China and Pakistan.
52 Medium Regiment (Sanjoi Mirpur) is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.