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.[3] 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.[4]
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment traces its origin to the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir.Maharaja Gulab Singh, of 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.
A major portion of the state forces participated in the first World War. The Regiment saw action in the East Africa, Palestine and Mesopotamia and won the Battle Honours of Megiddo, Nablus, Kilimanjaro, Beho Beho, Palestine (region) and Sharon. The Regiment was honoured with a total of 31 decorations.
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.
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.
The greatest trial of the Regiment came immediately after independence when Pakistan invaded Kashmir. All nine Battalions of the Regiment (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) were strung over 500 miles of the frontier form Kathua in the South to Leh in the North, who displayed dogged tenacity, unflinching loyalty, exemplary courage and devotion to duty unparalleled in history. A total of 18 Officers, 37 Junior Commissioned Officers, 1194 Other ranks and 34 Non Combatants laid their life in the service of the motherland and the regiment was awarded with two Maha Vir Chakras (including the first Maha Vir Chakra of Independent India awarded to Late Brigadier Rajinder Singh), 18 Vir Chakras and 52 Mentioned in Despatches.
On 18 March 1956 a large force of Pakistan Regiment Army launched an uprovoked 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.
Due to its valiant actions over the years including 1947-48 operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Regiment was amalgamated enbloc into the Indian Army on 15 January 57 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.
Two of the eight Battalions of the Regiment (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 Sect and the Regiment was awarded with one Mentioned-in-Despatch.
Seven of the eleven Battalions of the Regiment(3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) participated in 1965 war, wherein seven Officers and 167 men attained martyrdom in the line of duty and was the Regiment awarded with the Battle Honour of ASAL UTTAR (by 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) in Khem Karan Sect and Theatre Honour PUNJAB. Five persons of the Regiment were decorated.
All the 14 Battalions (1 to 14 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) of the Regiment participated in the 1971 War both at the Eastern and Western front wherein 76 Brave Soldiers of the regiment laid their life and the Regiment was awarded with the Battle Honour of 'SYAM GANJ' (1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) and Theatre Honour East Pakistan during the liberation of Bangladesh. 12 person of the Regiment were awarded with gallantry.
13, 14 and 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 28 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion and Ladakh Scouts took part in 'Operation VIJAY' (Kargil). In recognition of the ecceptional account given by 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in the capture of its objectives the unit has been awarded the Battle Honours of DRAG and MUSHKOH along with the Theater Honour of KARGIL. The following honours were awarded to the Battalions of the Regiment :-