Army celebrates J&K ‘arrival day’

The Army celebrated 69th Infantry Day at various locations across Jammu and Kashmir, including Northern Command headquarters in garrison town of Udhampur and Srinagar-based Chinar Corps command centre as separatists observed Indian troops’ arrival in Kashmir as a “black day”, prompting the authorities to step up security across the Valley on Thursday.

The day is observed every year on October 27, coinciding with the arrival of first batch of Indian troops in Srinagar on this day in 1947.

The General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, in a message complimented all soldiers “for their devotion to duty and indomitable spirit while working under trying and difficult conditions”. He acknowledged their “tremendous contribution in maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s borders and fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Wreaths were laid on the “Dhruva Shahid Smarak” in Udhampur, in remembrance and honour of all those members of the Infantry fraternity, who made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and safety of the country in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond, defence spokesman Colonel N.N. Joshi said.

The first batch of infantry troops from Sikh Regiment’s first battalion was airlifted to Srinagar on October 27, 1947 following Maharaja Hari Singh signed the “Instrument of Accession”. The accession was supported by Kashmir’s legendary leader Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.

However, various separatist parties while alleging that India forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir on the pretext of the Maharaja’s seeking its military assistance to push back the Pakistani tribal raiders had called for observing “black day” on the anniversary of the Army’s arrival here.

The separatists, like some historians, allege that sending in troops by New Delhi had been planned days before they actually arrived at the Srinagar airport on October 27, 1947.

Hundreds of J&K policemen and CRPF jawans and members of other Central forces, including Sashastra Seema Bal or SSB, fanned out overnight, patrolled the streets of Srinagar and also enforced strict security restrictions in volatile old quarter of the summer capital to hold back protests called by separatists. Also, key separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, continued to be under house arrest. In overnight raids, the police arrested dozens of more activists and youth accusing them of being involved in stone-throwing incidents and other unlawful activities. In past over 15 weeks, more than 9,000 such arrests have been made by the police across the Valley and parts of Jammu region.

The Infantry, the largest component and the premier fighting arm of the Indian Army, also known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’, is one of the most battle hardened and combat rich forces in the world. “The gallant foot-soldiers have kept alive the rich traditions of valour and sacrifice inherited by them over the generations,” a statement issued by the Northern Command headquarters said. It added, “Full with the glorious history of warfare over a couple of centuries, the infantry proudly continues to play a vital role in managing the security environment of the country.” “October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day in 1947 that a company of Infantry of The First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar, to liberate Kashmir from the invading Tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. Another significance of this day is that it was on this day in 1947 that India as an independent nation was first time engaged in operations against an aggressor,” the Army asserted. It recalled that Pakistan Army had launched ‘Operation Gulmarg’ in early October 1947 using Tribals to annex Jammu and Kashmir. “Hostilities began in early October 1947, when a tribal rebellion was instigated in Poonch in Southwest Kashmir. By 20th October the Pakistani Army entered the conflict in support of the tribal forces. On 22nd October, 1947, a Lashkar of five thousand tribals invaded the KashmirValley from Abbottabad. On 26th October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession thus making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India and the Indian Army was thereafter ordered to evict the invaders. The entire campaign was predominantly Infantry centric and its commencement on 27 October 1947 is commemorated as ‘Infantry Day’.

At Srinagar’s Badami Bagh Cantonment, Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, Chinar Corps Commander, while paying homage to the sacrifice of valiant soldiers, said that real tribute to these martyrs would be to remain committed to the cause for which they had laid down their lives. He added that it was also a day for the Chinar Corps to rededicate itself to the wellbeing of the people of Kashmir.

In Leh, a solemn wreath laying service was held at which Lt. Gen. PJS Pannu, GOC, HQ Fire & Fury Corps, who also happens to be the senior most infantry officer in Ladakh complimented all Infantry men with special reference to Ladakh Scouts for their devotion to duty and indomitable spirit while serving under highly difficult and trying conditions.