The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is an
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
regiment of the
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
. 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
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal AC, VrC, SM was an Indian Army soldier of 8th battalion. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (8 JAK LI). He was born in Bhaderwah, and basically from Gandhari Paddar and lived in Bhara village with parents Shanker Dass ...
of the 8th battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is one of the most decorated personnel of the Indian Army.
[Official Website of Indian Army]
Indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved on 2011-03-21.
History
In response to the
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
i
invasion
An invasion is a Offensive (military), military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitics, geopolitical Legal entity, entity aggressively enter territory (country subdivision), territory owned by another such entity, gen ...
of
Kashmir in 1947, local militias were raised for specific sectors, such as
Jammu
Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi, the city of Jammu, with an area of ...
,
Leh,
Nubra
Nubra, also called Dumra, is a historical region of Ladakh, India that is currently administered as a subdivision and a tehsil in the Leh district. Its inhabited areas form a tri-armed valley cut by the Nubra and Shyok rivers. Its Tibetan name ...
, etc. The militias were a paramilitary force under the Indian
Ministry of Home Affairs
An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs.
Lists of current ministries of internal affairs
Named "ministry"
* Ministry ...
and operated on the Line of Control.
[ Following the ]Sino-Indian War of 1962
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tib ...
, in 1963 the 7th and 14th Battalions of the J&K Militia were spun off to form the Ladakh Scouts
The Ladakh Scouts is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed the "Snow Warriors" or " Snow Leopards". The regiment specialises in mountain warfare, and its primary role is to guard India's borders in the high altitudes of the Unio ...
.
The militias conducted themselves with great distinction during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 or the Second Kashmir War was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. The conflict began following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, which was d ...
and earned 3 battle honours during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until the
Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 Decemb ...
. 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
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. I ...
Lekhraj Singh Puar of the Garhwal Rifles
The Garhwal Rifles, formerly known as the Royal 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 a ...
, who was on deputation to the Ministry of Home Affairs from the Indian Army, prepared and presented plans to the Ministry of Home Affairs
An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs.
Lists of current ministries of internal affairs
Named "ministry"
* Ministry ...
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
The JAK LI has served with honour in numerous theaters.
Siachen Conflict
In 1984, units of the JAK LI were deployed to the Siachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas at about , just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Kar ...
as part of Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot ( "Operation Cloud Messenger" after a famous Sanskrit poem by Kalidasa) was the codename for the Indian Armed Forces' operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir, precipitating the Siachen conflict. E ...
. 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
Captain Bana Singh (born 6 January 1949) is an Indian soldier and a recipient of the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. As a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, he led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on th ...
earned the Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicu ...
for the regiment in this battle. He is the first and so far only recipient of the PVC for the regiment. Major (later Brigadier) V.S. Minhas and 2Lt. Rajiv Pande won a Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋ iː ɾ a tʃ a kɾa) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield and is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards a ...
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
Operation Pawan ( hi, कार्यवाही पवन ''Kãryvãhi Pavan'', lit. "Operation Wind") was the code name assigned to the operation by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to take control of Jaffna from the Liberation Tigers o ...
.
UN Peacekeeping in Somalia
In 1992–93, the 2nd battalion was deployed as a part of UNOSOM II
United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) was the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia and took place from March 1993 until March 1995, following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991.
UNOSOM II carried on ...
, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
.
Kargil War
In 1999, JAK LI earned honours in the Kargil War
The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). In India, the conflict is also referr ...
. 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
Batalik is a town in Ladakh, India, located on the upper reaches of the Indus river. It was a focal point in the Kargil War because of its strategic location between Kargil, Leh and Baltistan. In 1999, the Kargil war was fought in this region.
...
. The overall performance of the battalion during Operation Vijay 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 (Ashok Chakra Paltan)
*6th Battalion
*8th Battalion (Param Vir Chakra Paltan) (Ashok Chakra Paltan)
*9th Battalion
*10th Battalion
*11th Battalion
*12th Battalion
*13th Battalion
*15th Battalion
*16th Battalion
*17th Battalion
Others:
*161 Infantry Battalion (TA) (H&H)
*162 Infantry Battalion (TA) (H&H) (Ashok Chakra Paltan)
*7th Battalion is now 1st Battalion, Ladakh Scouts
The Ladakh Scouts is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed the "Snow Warriors" or " Snow Leopards". The regiment specialises in mountain warfare, and its primary role is to guard India's borders in the high altitudes of the Unio ...
*14th Battalion is now 2nd Battalion, Ladakh Scouts
Distinctions
![The President of India, Shri K R Narayanan presenting the colors to JAKLI Regiment at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Oct 09, 1998](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/The_President_of_India%2C_Shri_K_R_Narayanan_presenting_the_colors_to_JAKLI_Regiment_at_Srinagar_in_Jammu_and_Kashmir_on_Oct_09%2C_1998.jpg)
Battle Honours
* Laleali, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[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.
* Picquet 707, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971[
* Shingo River Valley, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971][
* 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
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 posthumously and a bar is authorized for s ...
, 17 JAKLI
* Major Hitesh Kumar Dhankhar - Sena Medal
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 posthumously and a bar is authorized for s ...
(Gallantry), 10 JAK LI
* Captain Shashi Kant Sharma - Sena Medal
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 posthumously and a bar is authorized for s ...
(Gallantry) (posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot ( "Operation Cloud Messenger" after a famous Sanskrit poem by Kalidasa) was the codename for the Indian Armed Forces' operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir, precipitating the Siachen conflict. E ...
* Naib Subedar Bana Singh
Captain Bana Singh (born 6 January 1949) is an Indian soldier and a recipient of the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. As a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, he led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on th ...
- Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicu ...
, 8 JAK LI, Operation Meghdoot
* Lieutenant Triveni Singh - Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka (, ; also ''Asoka''; 304 – 232 BCE), popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was the third emperor of the Maurya Empire of Indian subcontinent during to 232 BCE. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, s ...
(posthumous), 5 JAK LI
* Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum - Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) () is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the B ...
(posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Kargil War
The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). In India, the conflict is also referr ...
[Official Website of Indian Army]
Indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved on 2011-03-21.
* Capt Amol Kalia - Vir Chakra (posthumous), 12 JAK LI, Kargil War
* Naib Subedar Chuni Lal
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal AC, VrC, SM was an Indian Army soldier of 8th battalion. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (8 JAK LI). He was born in Bhaderwah, and basically from Gandhari Paddar and lived in Bhara village with parents Shanker Dass ...
- Ashok Chakra (posthumous), Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋ iː ɾ a tʃ a kɾa) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield and is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards a ...
, Sena Medal (Gallantry)
* Brigadier Varinder Singh Minhas Varinder Singh Minhas VrC, SM (24 January 1955 – 12 October 2012) was an Indian Army officer. As a Major, he commanded Operation Rajiv to capture the erstwhile Quaid post (now known as Bana Post) in Siachen area. During this action, then-Nb Sub ...
- Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋ iː ɾ a tʃ a kɾa) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield and is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards a ...
, Sena Medal
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 posthumously and a bar is authorized for s ...
, 12 JAK LI
* Second Lieutenant. Rajiv Pande - Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋ iː ɾ a tʃ a kɾa) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield and is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards a ...
* Major Rohit Sharma - Shaurya Chakra
The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously ...
(posthumous), 8 JAK LI,
* Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, AC, SM & Bar was an Indian soldier in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry of the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, in January 2019. He wa ...
- Ashok Chakra (posthumous), Sena Medal
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 posthumously and a bar is authorized for s ...
and 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.
See also
* Azad Kashmir Regiment
* Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
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, t ...
References
{{Indian Army Infantry Regiments
Infantry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947
Military units and formations established in 1976