All the paratroopers of the elite President’s Bodyguard (PBG) carried out para jumps to mark the 250th raising day of the Regiment. The troopers of the regiment performed the jumps in Agra for two days ending Thursday.
Giving details of the history of the President’s Bodyguard, officials said here on Friday it is one of the oldest regiment of the Indian army raised on September 30, 1773 in Varanasi.
In addition to the ceremonial tasks, the PBG performs many operational tasks. The personnel from the PBG are excellent horsemen as well as trained paratroopers. They are trained to be dropped by parachute into battle or behind enemy lines. Even today a detachment of Regiment remains permanently deployed at the world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier.
With a view to celebrate and commemorate 250 years, the PBG paratroopers showcased their para trooping skills during their annual training jumps on 28-29 September at Malpura dropping zone, Agra wherein, all paratroopers underwent a low altitude, static line jump.
The Regiment has successfully participated in almost all wars and performed exceedingly well. In 1962, the Regiment’s Armoured Cars were deployed at Chushul and in 1965, it participated in “Operation Ablaze” in Ferozpur Sector.
Detachments of the Regiment have served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in 1988-89. PBG personnel have even served with distinction with Indian contingents forming part of the United Nation Forces in Somalia, Angola, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Lebanon.