Chinar Corps celebrated the 74^th Infantry Day at BB Cantt today to honour the supreme sacrifice of the gallant soldiers in fighting the Pakistani raiders in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. On 22 October 1947, ten thousand raiders supported by Pakistan Army launched an operation to invaded Kashmir under code name “Op Gulmarg.” The raiders were commanded by regular Pakistani Officers. These raiders were on rampage to loot and plunder, raping and killing innocent Kashmiris.

On 26 October 1947, “Instrument of Accession” was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh to accept the dominion of India. On 27 October 1947, two Infantry Companies of the FIRST BATTALION the SIKH REGIMENT under the command of Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai were airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir. Under the total communication blackout with then “J&K State Forces”, landing of these Infantry Soldiers was carried out at high risk.  The first wave of these infantry companies secured the Srinagar airfield facilitating arrival of further reinforcements. Local population, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Indian Army, pushed back the invaders West of Uri by the end of November 1947. Alongside the valour of sacrifices of gallant soldiers like Brig Rajinder Singh (MVC), Maj Som Nath Sharma (PVC), Lance Naik Karam Singh (PVC), CHM Piru Singh (PVC), Indian Army also remembers the contribution of local Kashmiri heroes like Mohd Maqbool Sherwani on this day.

The celebration began with a solemn wreath laying ceremony in which Lt Gen B S Raju, GOC Chinar Corps and all ranks paid tribute to the martyrs at War Memorial, Badami Bagh Cantonment. Paying homage to the sacrifice of valiant soldiers, Lt Gen B S Raju said that the real tribute to these martyrs would be to remain committed to the cause for which they had laid down their lives and also urged the troops to continue working with the same dedication and steadfast approach. He saluted the contribution of the Infantry Solider as the leading edge in all battles since 1947.