The Nubra Guards was an Indian paramilitary force formed during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, or the First Kashmir War, was a war fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four Indo-Pakistani wars that was fought between th ...
to provide security in the Nubra Tehsil, in particular the
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 ...
and
Shyok
The Shyok River is a tributary of the Indus River that flows through northern Ladakh and enters Gilgit–Baltistan, spanning some .
The Shyok River originates at the Rimo Glacier, one of the tongues of Siachen Glacier. Its alignment is very ...
river valleys.
Diskit
Diskit is a village and headquarter of the Nubra tehsil and the Nubra subdivision in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.Leh town, the capital of
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu ...
district. The Guard was originally formed by Chewang Rinchen whose family was from the area. In April 1948 the Guards were at company strength.Col. Chhewang Rinchen Kashmiri Pandit Network, retrieved 20 July 2019. The Guard was re-raised several times and resisted the Pakistani invasion of Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1952, the Nubra Guards were merged into the Jammu and Kashmir Militia (which later became the
Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
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 Awantipora with a winter setup near Jammu. Its regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed ri ...
) as the 7th Battalion. Both the 7th and 14th battalions JKLI were later detached 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 ...