Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
Encyclopedia
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is an infantry
regiment of the Indian Army
.
The regimental center is in Srinagar
's Airport Complex at Avantipur with a small winter setup near Jammu. It's regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed rifles. The motto of the regiment is Balidanam Vir Lakshanam (Sacrifice is a characteristic of the Brave).
The regiment mostly consists of volunteers from the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has 50% Muslims while the rest represent other ethnic groups from the state.
i invasion of Kashmir
in 1947, local militias were raised for specific sectors, such as Jammu
, Leh, Nubra
, etc. The militias were a paramilitary force under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs
and operated on the Line of Control. Following the Sino-Indian War of 1962, in 1963 the 7th and 14th Battalions of the J&K Militia were spun off to form the Ladakh Scouts.
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 MHA 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.
, during Operation Meghdoot
. The 8th JAK LI earned great honour by capturing a Pakistani post at 21,000 feet at the Siachen Glacier
in 1987. Naib Subedar Bana Singh
, 8th JAK LI, earned the Param Vir Chakra
for the Regiment in this battle. He is the first and only recipient of the PVC for the Regiment. Major VS Minhas won a Vir Chakra
, for gallantry displayed during the same engagement.
during Operation Pawan
.
, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia
.
.
The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to 12th Battalion, The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry for their exceptionally gallant and sterling performance during the battles of Point 5203 on night 10/11 June 1999 and Point 4812 on night 30 June/01 July 1999 in Batalik Sector. The overall performance of the battalion during Operation Vijay
was exceptional and marked with exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.
The following two battalions were formerly a part of this regiment:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
.
The regimental center is in Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
's Airport Complex at Avantipur with a small winter setup near Jammu. It's regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed rifles. The motto of the regiment is Balidanam Vir Lakshanam (Sacrifice is a characteristic of the Brave).
The regiment mostly consists of volunteers from the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has 50% Muslims while the rest represent other ethnic groups from the state.
History
In response to the PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i invasion of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
in 1947, local militias were raised for specific sectors, such as Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, Leh, Nubra
Nubra
Nubra may refer to:In the Indian subcontinent:* Nubra Valley, in the Jammu and Kashmir region* Nubra River, in the Jammu and Kashmir region* Nubra Pika , a mammalOther:* NuBra, a strapless brassiere...
, etc. The militias were a paramilitary force under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs (India)
Ministry of Home Affairs , known as the Home Ministry or MHA, is an Indian government ministry. It is an interior ministry mainly responsible for the maintenance of Internal security and domestic policy.-Ministerial Team:...
and operated on the Line of Control. Following the Sino-Indian War of 1962, in 1963 the 7th and 14th Battalions of the J&K Militia were spun off to form the Ladakh Scouts.
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
Garhwal Rifles
The Garhwal Rifles is a light infantry or 'rifle' regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised as the 39th Garhwal Rifles of the Bengal Army, became part of the old Indian Army, and received its present name on Indian independence...
, who was on deputation to the MHA from the Indian Army, prepared and presented plans to the Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs is a name for an interior ministry. It may refer to:*Ministry of Home Affairs *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.
Siachen Conflict
In 1984, JAK LI was deployed to the Siachen GlacierSiachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about , just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and...
, during Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot was the name given to the attack launched by the Indian Military to capture the Siachen Glacier in the disputed Kashmir region, precipitating the Siachen Conflict. Launched on 13 April 1984, this military operation was unique as the first assault launched in the world's highest...
. The 8th JAK LI earned great honour by capturing a Pakistani post at 21,000 feet at the Siachen Glacier
Siachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about , just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and...
in 1987. Naib Subedar Bana Singh
Bana Singh
Naib Subedar Bana Singh, PVC was born on 3 January 1949 into a Sikh family, at Kadyal in Jammu and Kashmir. He enrolled in the Indian Army on 6 January 1969 into the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry . He was trained at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg and also at another school at...
, 8th JAK LI, earned the Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
for the Regiment in this battle. He is the first and only recipient of the PVC for the Regiment. Major VS Minhas won a Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...
, for gallantry displayed during the same engagement.
IPKF and Sri Lanka
In 1987, JAK LI was deployed to Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
during Operation Pawan
Operation Pawan
Operation Pawan was the codename assigned to the operation by the Indian Peace Keeping Force to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE , in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord...
.
UN Peacekeeping in Somalia
In 1992–93, units from JAK LI were deployed as a part of UNITAFUNITAF
Unified Task Force was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia between 5 December 1992 – 4 May 1993...
, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Kargil War
In 1999, JAK LI earned honours in the Kargil WarKargil War
The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
.
The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to 12th Battalion, The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry for their exceptionally gallant and sterling performance during the battles of Point 5203 on night 10/11 June 1999 and Point 4812 on night 30 June/01 July 1999 in Batalik Sector. The overall performance of the battalion during Operation Vijay
Operation Vijay
Operation Vijay may refer to:*Operation Vijay , the operation by the Military of India that led to the capture of Goa, Daman and Diu and Anjidiv Islands*Operation Vijay , the Indian operation to push back infiltrators in the Kargil War...
was exceptional and marked with exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.
Units
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- 5th Battalion
- 6th Battalion
- 8th Battalion
- 9th Battalion
- 10th Battalion
- 11th Battalion
- 12th Battalion
- 13th Battalion
- 15th Battalion
- 16th Battalion
The following two battalions were formerly a part of this regiment:
- 7th Battalion - Now the 1st Ladakh Scouts
- 14th Battalion - Now the 2nd Ladakh Scouts
Battle Honours
- Laleali, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Picquet 707, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Shingo River Valley, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Gutrain, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Gallantry Awards
The following personnel of the JAK LI, have received the highest honors for gallantry:- Naib Subedar Bana SinghBana SinghNaib Subedar Bana Singh, PVC was born on 3 January 1949 into a Sikh family, at Kadyal in Jammu and Kashmir. He enrolled in the Indian Army on 6 January 1969 into the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry . He was trained at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg and also at another school at...
, 8 JAK LI, Operation MeghdootOperation MeghdootOperation Meghdoot was the name given to the attack launched by the Indian Military to capture the Siachen Glacier in the disputed Kashmir region, precipitating the Siachen Conflict. Launched on 13 April 1984, this military operation was unique as the first assault launched in the world's highest...
, Param Vir ChakraParam Vir ChakraThe Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously.... - Lt Triveni SinghTriveni SinghLieutenant Triveni Singh was an Indian soldier from 5 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra Award, India's highest peacetime award for his actions in the terrorist attack on Jammu Railway Station on January 2, 2004....
, 5 JAK LI, Ashoka ChakraAshoka ChakraThe Ashoka Chakra is depiction of the Buddhist Dharmachakra, represented with 24 spokes. It is so called because it appears on a number of edicts of Ashoka, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath which has been adopted as the National Emblem of the Republic of India.The most... - Lt Keishing Clifford Nangrum, 12 JAK LI, Posthumous, Kargil WarKargil WarThe Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
, Maha Vir ChakraMaha Vir ChakraThe Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave.-Appearance:The medal is made... - Nb Sub Chuni LalChuni LalNaib Subedar Chuni Lal, Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal was a soldier of 8th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry of Indian Army...
, Ashok Chakra (P), Vir ChakraVir ChakraVir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...
, Sena MedalSena MedalThis article is about the Sena Medal, an Indian Military decoration. 'SM' redirects here The Sena Medal is awarded to members of the Indian army, of all ranks, "for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army." Awards may be made...
(Gallantry