The Army on Sunday celebrated 67th Infantry Day as it was on this day in 1947 when the first Indian infantry battalion of Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar to drive out raiders and Pakistan Army soldiers from Kashmir Valley in the first India-Pakistan war.
Army Chief General Bikram Singh and several senior officers paid homage to all the martyred soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate here on Sunday. Similar functions were held in all parts of India to salute the brave jawans who are deployed in the north-east, Jammu and Kashmir and Siachen, the world highest battlefield.
At present, there are 350 infantry battalions(one battalion has 1,000 soldiers) and most of them are guarding the 750-km long line Of Control(lOC) with Pakistan in Kashmir and 4,000 km line of Actual Control(lAC) facing China.
Besides guarding the borders, several battalions are engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir and the north-east. While the north-east is more or less peaceful, Jammu and Kashmir of late has seen a surge in militant violence, ceasefire violations at lOC and renewed bids to infiltrate from across the lOC.
The Infantry is considered the most battle hardened and indispensable component of the armed forces and will continue to remain the most operationally committed combat arm considering the need to guard varied, inhospitable and rugged terrain on its Northern and Eastern frontiers.
In fact, the Indian infantry is one of the most experienced units in the world which is engaged in conventional operations on the Siachen Glacier or fighting low intensity conflict in Kashmir where Pakistan Army is actively aiding and abetting militancy.
Besides these deployments, the Infantry also took part in the Indian Peace Keeping mission in Sri lanka and operated against the lTTE. The performance of Infantry in UN Peace Keeping operations abroad has also raised the professional esteem of the Indian Army in the eyes of the international community. Moreover, its role during Uttrakhand flash flood relief operations in June this year earned kudos from the entire country.