Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: Infantry Day was celebrated in a traditional and solemn manner across the Northern Command of the Indian Army today
At Nagrota Corps headquarters, the day was marked by laying of wreath by Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar, GOC White Knight Corps at the `Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal’ and remembering the martyrs.
Indian Army celebrates October 27th every year as the ‘Infantry Day’, as it was on this day that the 1st Battalion of the SIKH Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and displayed extraordinary courage to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders.
This epic battle continues to motivate thousands of officers, JCOs and jawans, who brave all odds of demanding terrain and adversary and continue to put up a resilient and determined opposition to every obstacle that impedes national sovereignty.
In order to honour the supreme sacrifice of the Infantry in fighting the Pakistani raiders, Tiger Division celebrated Infantry Day, with traditional solemnity.
Maj Gen Vijay Nair, GOC Tiger Division, laid wreath at the ‘Tiger War Memorial’. serving officers, all ranks of ‘Tiger Division’ and veterans attended the ceremony. Similar, events organized in respective Brigade Headquarters keeping COVID-19 protocols in mind.
Infantry Day was also celebrated by Army in Baramulla sector to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of the infantry in countering the Pakistani raiders to J&K in 1947.
The celebration began with laying of wreath at the Sikh War Memorial by Army personnel as well as civilians of the area. During the conduct, Adv Karnail Singh, a renowned civilian of Baramulla also addressed the gathering and narrated the incidents of atrocities by Pakistani raiders before arrival of Indian Army on Oct 27, 1947 to save Baramulla from the Kabbalis.
The day is very significant in the history as on this day Pakistani tribals entered Baramulla. On same morning 1st Battalion the Sikh Regiment commanded by Lt Col Diwan Ranjit Rai arrived in Srinagar. Before arrival of Indian Army, Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Chief of Staff of Jammu & Kashmir State Forces had already made supreme sacrifice on Oct 24, 1947 and imposed a crucial delay to the raiders by taking up defenses in Uri, 110 km from Srinagar and by blowing up a large girder bridge at the eastern exit of Uri. The prompt action of Indian Army saved Srinagar from falling into the hands of Pakistani tribals.
The landing of 1st SIKH in Srinagar is celebrated as the Infantry Day. India forces gunned down 634 enemy men between Shelateng and Baramulla. The “hounds” became the “hunted” and Baramulla was taken on November 9 and Uri on November 11.
The celebration at Baramulla Garrison culminated with media interaction of Maj Gen Virendra Vats, GOC 19 Infantry Division where he remembered the gallant actions of Indian Army and the locals of Baramulla to save Kashmir from Pakistani tribal invaders. He also spoke about the courage and valour of Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Chief of J&K State Forces, who fought one of the most bloodiest battle of recent times where he pitted 200 odd men against thousands of tribals and fought till last man, last bullet.
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