[fameintatenly]

The inauguration of Fifth Reunion of The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) commenced at Regimental Centre in Srinagar by paying tributes to martyrs who had laid down their lives for defence of the homeland. This was followed by the Special Sainik Sammelan in which serving and retired officers and war heroes like Sub Maj (Honourary Captain) Bana Singh, Param Veer Chakra of the Regiment addressed the troops. NOKs of martyrs, “Veer Naris” (Widows of martyrs) and disabled soldiers were felicitated, the disabled soldiers were given modified scooters to assist in enhancing their mobility. The celebration were attended by a large number of serving and retired senior officers and jawans of the regiment and importantly civil and other dignitaries from the J&K state including the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The celebrations continued for two days which included Bara Khana for the troops and JAK LI Mela on 29 Aug 2012.

The JAK LI was raised as a volunteer force on Apr 15, 1948. As a response to the clarion call given by the late Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah at the historic Lal Chowk, thousands of volunteers came forward to protect their Home and Hearth against the Pakistani raiders. This facilitated the Indian Army to launch operations with volunteers acting as guides, porters and even leading assaults. After having defeated the nefarious design of Pakistani raiders, the volunteers were organised into fighting units under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Militia. The Regiment remained deployed along the line of control as a regional force and participated in all operations. Soon after the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, the Government of India, on December 2, 1972 recognising their valour accorded them the status of a regular regiment of the Indian Army. In April 1976, the regiment was redesignated as ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry’.