Infantry Day 2024: Recalling the first Indian military action, on this date in 1947 in J&K

On Infantry Day, we each salute the indomitable tone and courageousness of each Ranks and Veterans of the Infantry, who tirelessly support us. They ever basal resolute successful the look of immoderate adversity, ensuring the information and information of our nation. The infantry embodies the essence of… pic.twitter.com/lJHRob40ya

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2024

We callback the events that transpired connected October 27, 1947, erstwhile the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment arrived astatine Srinagar to support Jammu and Kashmir from outer aggression.

What events preceded the deployment of Indian soldiers successful J&K?

On October 22, Pakistan poured successful thousands of regular soldiers disguised arsenic tribals and volunteers from the tribal areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) into J&K, aiming to inhabit the authorities and integrate it with Pakistan by force. The authorities forces of J&K gave the archetypal absorption to the invaders.

On October 26, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, signed the instrumentality of accession, making his authorities a portion of Indian dominion and frankincense paving the mode for Indian troops to beryllium deployed successful the authorities to combat against Pakistani invaders. With Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s approval, an exigency gathering of the Western Army Commander was held to unreserved troops to Srinagar, adjacent arsenic the Pakistani invaders were en way to the summertime superior of J&K.

Which troops were deployed connected October 27?

The 1 Sikh Battalion, commanded by Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, was the archetypal to beryllium rushed to Srinagar by air. The battalion was stationed successful Gurgaon astatine the time, but of its 4 companies 2 had been deployed to assistance civilian authorities elsewhere to tackle the post-independence communal riots. Thus, of the remaining 2 companies, 1 artillery comprising the 13 Field Regiment and an artillery regiment was provided to it successful an infantry role. All these troops assembled astatine Palam airdrome successful Delhi successful the aboriginal hours of October 27 to beryllium airlifted to Srinagar Airfield.

Seven Dakota craft were assembled astatine Palam airdrome connected the greeting of October 27, each scheduled to bash 2 sorties to airlift the troops of 1 Sikh and their equipment. Only 2 planes belonged to the Indian Air Force, the remainder were sourced from backstage airlines, including that of Biju Patnaik who would spell connected to go the Chief Minister of Orissa (now Odisha). The planes took to aerial soon aft sunrise wherever they would frankincense marque history.

What was the value of the induction of troops connected October 27?

Former Governor of J&K and Assam, Lt Gen SK Sinha, past a Major progressive successful the process recalled that the archetypal program was to nonstop a brigade-level unit by road. Considering the mediocre authorities of the roads linking Pathankot and Srinagar, this program was revised to unreserved successful troops by air. Another brigade would aboriginal travel by road.

This measurement proved decisive successful ensuring the airfield was unafraid from falling into the hands of Pakistani invaders: pursuing the archetypal program would person fixed Pakistan capable clip to reenforce its invaders done aerial and frankincense inhabit the Valley.

After securing the Srinagar airfield, the 1 Sikh battalion led by Lt Col Rai rushed to Baramulla to hold the beforehand of the invaders towards Srinagar. Their efforts besides allowed the Indian troops to recoup, sending successful reinforcements to Srinagar by air. He was posthumously awarded the archetypal Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery, having laid down his beingness adjacent Baramulla portion successful battle.

This is an updated mentation of an explainer published successful 2020.