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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]
| Jammu and Kashmir Rifles | |
|---|---|
 Regimental Insignia of the 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] |
History
editThe 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.
Pre-Independence
edit
World War I
editA 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.
Third Afghan War
editImmediately 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.
World War II
editThe Regiment saw action in Burma where 23 of its person were decorated. Two Battle Honours, Kennedy Peak and Meiktila were awarded to the Regiment.
Post-Independence
edit1947 Jammu and Kashmir Operations and Merger With Indian Army
editThe 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.
1956 Husainiwala Operations
editOn 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.
Merger With Indian Army
editDue 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.
Indo-China War - 1962
editTwo 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.
Indo-Pak War - 1965
editSeven 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.
Indo-Pak War - 1971
editAll 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.
Operation VIJAY
edit13, 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 |
Battle Honours
editPre-Independence
edit| (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 |
Post - Independence
edit| (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 |
Theatre Honours
editPre-Independence
edit| (i) | East Africa | 1914-17 |
| (ii) | East Africa | 1916-18 |
| (iii) | Burma | 1942-45 |
Post-Independence
edit| (i) | 1942-45 | |
| (ii) | Jammu & Kashmir | 1947-48 |
| (iii) | Punjab | 1965 |
| (iv) | East Pakistan | 1971 |
| (v) | Kargil | 1999 |
Gallantry Awards
edit| 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 |
Unit Citations / Appreciations of Chief of Army Staff (Indian Army)
edit| (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 |
United Nation Force Commander's Unit Citation
edit| (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 |
See also
editNotes
edit- Rawat, Rachna Bisht (2014). The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories. Penguin Books India Private Limited. ISBN 9780143422358.
- Singh, K. Brahma (1990), History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956: The State Force Background, Lancer International, ISBN 978-81-7062-091-4
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles". bharat-rakshak.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Maj Gen MPSingh,YSM,SM COR JAKRIF & LS addressed a Special Sainik Sammelan of the Raghunath Bn on the eve of its departure to Peacekeeping Mission UNMISS". X (formerly twitter). 3 July 2024.
- ^ Brahma Singh, K (1990). History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956: The state force background. New Delhi: Lancer International. pp. 110, 278, 279, 290. ISBN 978-81-7062-091-4. OCLC 21760758.
- ^ "Jammu and Kashmir Rifles". globalsecurity.org. 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
Further reading
edit- Palit, Dharitri Kumar (1972), Jammu and Kashmir Arms: History of the J & K Rifles, Palit & Dutt, OCLC 1099928567
- Manju Khajuria, Why we must not forget J&K state forces who fought World War I, Daily O, 7 November 2015.
- "Summary of world broadcasts. Part 3, Part 3". Summary of World Broadcasts. Part 3, Part 3 (3012–3024): 4. 1993. ISSN 1352-139X. OCLC 28685680. Retrieved 11 April 2022.