Military Digest | Trishul Division, raised in 1962 and engaged in battle since then

The part was aboriginal renamed the 3rd Infantry Division (3 Inf Div) with 70, 114 and 163 Infantry Brigades being portion of it.

On 28 November 1962, the existent enactment motion of the part was adopted. It was designed by Major D H J Gear, who was serving arsenic the lawman adjunct quartermaster wide successful the divisional headquarters. The motion portrayed 3 snow-capped peaks depicting the fig of the division.

Maj Gen Budh Singh added a bayonet to the enactment motion to springiness it an infantry touch. The bayonet was aboriginal replaced by a trishul (trident) and since the part had already been blooded successful battle, the tips were coloured red.

Brig Ashok Malhotra, who served arsenic the lawman wide operating bid of the division, has written an fantabulous relationship of the division’s past from its inception to the aboriginal 1990s.

Prior to the raising of 3 Div, 121 (Independent) Infantry Brigade Group, aboriginal made celebrated arsenic the “Kargil brigade” successful 1999, exercised operational power implicit the full of Ladakh till 1960. However, consequent upon the physique up of the look disconnected with the Chinese, induction of further troops took place.

The 114 Infantry Brigade was re-raised connected March 29, 1960, to instrumentality implicit eastbound Ladakh and implicit a play of clip much troops were brought successful and upon the raising of the divisional headquarters, each troops successful the portion came nether it.

Brig Malhotra wrote successful his publication astir the uniqueness of 3 Div astatine the time. It faced threats from some Pakistan and China and was deployed successful the astir analyzable terrain to look aft 97,000 sq km of the area. This made it the largest country for immoderate part successful the Indian Army.

The Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield successful the world, is located successful this sector. It is 76 km successful length, making it the 2nd longest glacier extracurricular the polar region.

Situation anterior to the raising of 3 Div

Post the ceasefire betwixt India and Pakistan connected January 1, 1949, 77 Parachute Brigade, which had successfully recaptured Kargil, was de-inducted. Brig Malhotra mentions that it appeared that lone 1 infantry battalion remained to look aft Kargil. The 7 Jammu and Kashmir Militia battalion remained successful Leh and the country astir it.

In June 1951, the Kargil Garrison was established nether Colonel K Bhag Singh. It was nether bid of the 19 Infantry Division and its country of work included the full Ladakh district. In October 1952, the Kargil Garrison was reorganised and renamed Able Garrison but continued to beryllium nether 19 Infantry Division.

Headquarters Charlie Garrison astatine Leh and Quebec Station astatine Dras were besides placed nether the bid of the Able Garrison. On September 1, 1956, this full unit was reorganised into 121 Infantry Brigade with Brigadier Budh Singh, arsenic the archetypal commander. The brigade became an Independent Brigade Group connected March 1, 1961.

When the Chinese began their assertive activities other Ladakh successful the precocious 1950s, 7 Jammu and Kashmir Militia was reorganised into 2 wings and despatched eastwards to the borderline areas. Its deployment, which was completed successful 1959, was arsenic follows:

Shyok Wing: Phobrang, Marsimik La, Tsogst Salu Man, Thakung, Chushul and Tsaka La.

Indus Wing: Old and caller Demchok, Jara La, Chang La, Fukche, Dungti and Koyul.

“The ever-increasing menace from the Chinese led to the re-raising of 114 Infantry Brigade successful March 1960 and the Brigade re-assumed work for the defence of Ladakh against the Chinese. Meanwhile, 14 Jammu and Kashmir Militia, having been raised astatine Srinagar, was airlifted to Leh successful May 1960 and was deployed with a institution each astatine Diskit, Shyok and Spituk,” writes Brig Malhotra.

Soon thereafter, it was decided to clasp Daulet Beg Oldi besides and this Battalion was asked to transportation retired a reconnaissance. This was undertaken by a subedar large who reached the Karakoram Pass connected 10 July 1960 and hoisted the tricolour.

Based connected authorities orders, the brigade established 65 posts from Daulet Beg Oldi successful the northbound to Demchok successful the south, wrong a play of 2 years.

On December 5, 1961, patrolling was ordered to beryllium carried retired arsenic acold onward arsenic possible. This led to further clashes, and successful July 1962 the Chinese violated the planetary Border and were entrenched astatine Haji Langar, Dambu Guru and Spanggur. The Chinese violative was yet launched astir October 20, 1962.

The aftermath of 1962

In the aftermath of the debacle with the Chinese, 3 Div occupied itself with introspection and intensive training,” says Brig Malhotra.

Soon aft the war, the pursuing changes took spot successful November 1962.

The office of the D Sector, which was raised astatine Partapur connected October 24, 1962, and became liable for bid of each troops successful Shyok Valley and Sub-Sector North, was redesignated arsenic Partappur Sector successful November 1962.

The office of the 114 Infantry Brigade was moved from Chushul to Darbuk and aboriginal to Tangtse.

Reappraisals and redeployment of formations were carried out. The office of the 3 Artillery Brigade, having been raised successful March 1963 astatine Srinagar, moved to Leh successful May-June 1963.