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, 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. 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.

History

The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment traces its origin to the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Gulab Singh, 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

World War I

Maharaja Pratap Singh offered three Infantry Battalions and one Mountain Battery for service under the British during the First World War. The Regiment saw action in the East Africa, Palestine and Mesopotamia and won the Battle Honours of Megiddo (1918)|Megiddo], Nablus (1918)|Nablus], Kilimanjaro, Behobeho, Palestine and Sharon. The Regiment was honoured with a total of 31 decorations. Following the war, the troops were welcomed on a grand scale at the Jammu Railway Station, following which the returning battalions marched through Jammu City displaying their war trophies, which included the German insignia – the Brass Eagle, the German flag and German artillery.

Third Afghan War

Immediately 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

The 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

1947 Jammu and Kashmir operations

The greatest trial of the Regiment came in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948. All nine Battalions of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were strung over 500 miles of the frontier, from Kathua in the South to Leh in the North. Although outnumbered and partially compromised by internal betrayal, the units resistance managed to delay the attacking force. This delay proved strategically critical, as it allowed time for the State of Jammu and Kashmir to accede to India and for Indian forces to intervene, thereby influencing the outcome of the conflict. A total of 18 Officers, 37 Junior Commissioned Officers, 1194 Other ranks and 34 Non Combatants laid their life during the war. The regiment was awarded with two Maha Vir Chakras, 18 Vir Chakras and 52 Mentioned in Despatches.

1956 Husainiwala Operations

On 18 March 1956 a Pakistani force launched an 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

Due to its valiant actions over the years including 1947–48 operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Regiment was amalgamated embloc into the Indian Army on 15 January 1957 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

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 Sector and the Regiment was awarded with one Mentioned-in-Despatch.

Indo-Pak War – 1965

Seven of the eleven Battalions of the Regiment participated in 1965 war, wherein seven Officers and 167 men were killed in the line of duty. 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was awarded with the Battle Honour of Asal Uttar and Theatre Honour Punjab for operations in Khem Karan Sector. Five persons of the Regiment were decorated.

Indo-Pak War – 1971

All the 14 Battalions of the Regiment participated in the 1971 War both at the Eastern and Western fronts. 76 soldiers of the regiment laid their lives. 1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was awarded with the Battle Honour of Syam Ganj and Theatre Honour East Pakistan during the liberation of Bangladesh. 12 persons of the Regiment were awarded with gallantry medals.

Kargil War

13, 14 and 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 28 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion and Ladakh Scouts took part in Operation Vijay. During the war, the regiment won 2 Param Vir Chakras, 8 Vir Chakras, 2 Yudh Seva Medals, 16 Sena Medals and 8 COAS Commendation Cards. In recognition of the exceptional account given by 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in the capture of its objectives, the unit has been awarded the Battle Honours of Dras and Mushkoh, the Theatre Honour of Kargil, along with the Bravest of the brave honour.

Class composition

The regiment has a class composition of 75 percentage Dogras, with the other 25 percent from Gorkhas, Sikhs and Muslims.

Regimental Centre

The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Centre is located at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The centre was located at Satwari Lines in Jammu between 1932 and 1957, and then at Morar in Gwalior before moving to its present location in Jabalpur in 1975.

Regimental Insignia and Traditions

;Regimental Crest
The regimental crest since 1963 features an oval encircling the radiant sun. Within the oval is the Sanskrit inscription Prashasta Ranveerta. The oval is surmounted by the national emblem of India – the Ashoka lion capital, while a scroll below bears the title ‘JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES’. The present crest reserves two significant elements from the former state emblem – the motto and the sun, the latter symbolic both of strength and of the Suryavanshi descent of the erstwhile ruling Dogra family of Jammu.
;Uniform
The present uniform of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry includes a green lanyard on the left shoulder and the shoulder title has the words JAK RIF in an arc. They traditionally wear black rank badges and buttons, as the original purpose of the rifle regiments was camouflage and concealment. The green beret has the regimental crest.
;Regimental motto and war cry
The motto of the regiment is Prashasta Ranveerta, which translates to "Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy". The war cry of the regiment is Durge Mata Ki Jai, which translates to "Victory to Mother Durga".

Regimental Day

13 April is celebrated as the regimental day in memory of General Zorawar Singh.

Affiliations

, a is affiliated to the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles and Ladakh Scouts of the Indian Army.

Units

BattalionRaising DateNicknameRemarksReferences
1st Battalion13 April 1873Raghupartap battalionRaised by Maharaja Ranbir Singh at Satwari Lines in Jammu. Pre independence battle honours – Hunza Nagar, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine and 3rd Afghan War . Post independence battle honour Poonch and Theatre Honour of Jammu and Kashmir 1947–48.
2nd Battalion25 April 1869Bodyguard battalionRaised at Jammu. Battle honours Hunza Nagar 1891, Chilas, 1893, Kilimanjaro, Behobeho and East Africa 1918–19.
3rd Battalion15 April 1856Raghunath battalionRaised at Raghunath Mandir, Jammu. Battle honours Chitral, 1895, Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1918, Kilimanjaro, Behobeho and East Africa 1914–17.
4th Battalion1837Fateh Shibji PaltanRaised at Jammu by Maharaja Gulab Singh.It is the oldest battalion in the regiment.
5th Battalion13 April 1849Suraj GorkhaRaised by Maharaja Gulab Singh at Bahu Fort, Jammu. Re-raised at Gwalior under Lieutenant Colonel Harnam Singh MC in February 1962.
6th Battalion1 January 1963Skardu battalionRaised at Jammu on 10 November 1923, by Lieutenant General Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Sahib Bahadur. Disbanded on 1951. Re-raised in January 1963 in Gwalior by Major Jit Singh. Lieutenant Colonel Mahel Singh took command of the unit on 17 April 1963.
7th Battalion9 March 1932Lucky SeventhRaised at Jammu by Lieutenant General Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Bahadur. Disbanded in 1945, was re-raised on 5 May 1947 by Lieutenant Colonel Devi Singh.
8th Battalion10 February 1940Elite EightRaised at Jammu under Lieutenant Colonel Jaswant Singh as 8th Jammu and Kashmir Infantry. Battle Honour Poonch and Theatre Honour Jammu and Kashmir, 1947–48. Re-raised at Gwalior in October 1965 by Lieutenant Colonel Prem Singh.
9th Battalion1858, Re-raised 13 March 1940Rudra ShibnabhRaised at Satwari, Jammu under Lieutenant Colonel Dhanatar Singh.
10th Battalion1 October 1964Cho La Warriors, Tenacious TenthRaised at Morar Cantonment under Lieutenant Colonel Mahatam Singh.
11th Battalion1 January 1965Double firstRaised at Gwalior under Lieutenant Colonel Kohar Singh.
12nd Battalion15 January 1966Bahadur Balwan BarahRaised at Morar, Gwalior under Lieutenant Colonel Sukhdev Singh.
13th Battalion1 October 1966Bravest of the BraveHas the unique honour to have won two Param Vir Chakras in a single campaign. Battle Honour Mushkoh & Drass and Theatre Honour Kargil.
14th Battalion1 January 1967Fierce Fourteen
15th BattalionJanuary 1976Raised at Dhana, Madhya Pradesh
16th Battalion1 September 1976Converted to14 Mechanised Infantry Regiment on 16 January 1981.
17th BattalionStriking Seventeenth
18th Battalion
19th Battalion11 February 1985
20th BattalionTowering Twenty
21th Battalion2015Sarvashreshth Ikkis
22nd Battalion
23rd Battalion
126 Infantry Battalion 27 February 1959Based at Madhopur, Punjab
155 Infantry Battalion
160 Infantry Battalion TA 2004Kupwara TerriersBased at Kupwara
3 Rashtriya Rifles
28 Rashtriya Rifles
52 Rashtriya Rifles

Battle Honours

Pre-Independence

Ladakh1834–40
Baltistan1840
Tibet1841
Gilgit1860
Yasin1863
Darel1866
Hunza Nagar1891–92
Chilas1893
Chitral1895
East Africa 1914–171914–17
East Africa 1916–181916–18
Megiddo 1914–18
Beho-Beho 1914–18
Nablus 1914–18
Sharon 1914–18
Kilimanjaro 1914–18
Palestine 1918
3rd Afghan War1919–20
Kennedy Peak 1944
Battle of [Meiktila and Mandalay|Meiktila] 1945

Post-Independence

Poonch 1947–48
Skardu 1947–48
Jammu & Kashmir 1947–481947–48
Asal Uttar 1965
Syam Ganj1971
Drass1999
Mushkoh1999
Kargil1999

Theatre Honours

Pre-Independence

Post-Independence

Gallantry Awards

1 JAK RIF2008
4 JAK RIF1993
6 JAK RIF2017
15 JAK RIF2012
19 JAK RIF2022
20 JAK RIF2020
26 JAK RIF 2024