Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
| Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry | |
|---|---|
.svg) Regimental Insignia of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry | |
| Active | 1947–present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Army |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 15 battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Motto(s) | Balidanam Vir Lakshanam (Sacrifice is a characteristic of the Brave) |
| War Cry | Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India) |
| Decorations |
|
| Commanders | |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Lt Gen Manish Erry |
| Notable commanders | Lt Gen Satish Dua, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A pair of crossed rifles |
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is an
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
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 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.
Engagements
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The JAK LI has served with honour in numerous theaters.[3]
Siachen Conflict
In 1984, units of the JAK LI were deployed to the
V.S. Minhas and 2Lt. Rajiv Pande won a Vir Chakra
for gallantry displayed during the same engagement.
IPKF and Sri Lanka
In 1987, JAK LI units were deployed to Sri Lanka as part of Operation Pawan.
UN Peacekeeping in Somalia
In 1992–93, the 2nd battalion was deployed as a part of
Kargil War
In 1999, JAK LI earned honours in the
Operation Vijay was exceptional and marked with exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.[4]
Units
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- 5th Battalion (Ashok Chakra Paltan)
- 6th Battalion
- 8th Battalion (Bravest of the Brave)
- 9th Battalion
- 10th Battalion
- 11th Battalion
- 12th Battalion
- 13th Battalion
- 15th Battalion
- 16th Battalion
- 17th Battalion
- 129 Infantry Battalion (TA) (Ecological)
- 161 Infantry Battalion (TA) (H&H)
- 162 Infantry Battalion (TA) (H&H) (Ashok Chakra Paltan)
- 7th Battalion is now 1st Battalion, Ladakh Scouts
- 14th Battalion is now 2nd Battalion, Ladakh Scouts
Distinctions
Battle Honours
- Laleali, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[2][5][6]
- Picquet 707, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[2][6]
- Shingo River Valley, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[2]
- Gutrian, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Batalik, Indo-Pak War of 1999
Gallantry Awards
The following personnel of the JAK LI, have received the highest honors for gallantry:
- Colonel Manoram Yadav - Sena Medal, 17 JAKLI
- Major Hitesh Kumar Dhankhar - Sena Medal (Gallantry), 10 JAK LI
- Captain Shashi Kant Sharma - Sena Medal (Gallantry) (posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Operation Meghdoot
- Naib Subedar Bana Singh - Param Vir Chakra, 8 JAK LI, Operation Meghdoot
- Lieutenant Triveni Singh - Ashoka Chakra (posthumous), 5 JAK LI
- Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum - Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Kargil War[7]
- Capt Amol Kalia - Vir Chakra (posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Kargil War
- Naib Subedar Ashok Chakra (posthumous), Vir Chakra, Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- Brigadier Varinder Singh Minhas - Vir Chakra, Sena Medal, 12 JAK LI
- Second Lieutenant. Rajiv Pande - Vir Chakra
- Major Rohit Sharma - Shaurya Chakra (posthumous), 8 JAK LI,
- Lance Naik Ashok Chakra (posthumous), Sena Medaland Bar, 162 INF BN (TA) JAK LI
President's Standard
The President , Mr K. R. Narayanan, presented the colours to the regiment at its regimental centre on 9 October 1998.[8]
See also
- Azad Kashmir Regiment
- Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
- List of regiments of the Indian Army
References
- ^ a b "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - J&K Light Infantry". Archived from the original on 2009-08-18. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ a b c d e Official Website of Indian Army. Indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved on 2011-03-21.
- ^ [1] Archived June 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Pike, John. "Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry [JAKLI]". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ WAR MEMORIAL AT LALEALI : Honey Vinay blogs on sulekha, Current Affairs blogs, Honey Vinay blog from india. Vinayk.sulekha.com (2007-04-25). Retrieved on 2011-03-21.
- ^ ISBN 9788170940692. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Official Website of Indian Army. Indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved on 2011-03-21.
- ^ "President presents Colours to J&KLI". 1998-10-10. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
