Srinagar: The Indian Army on Friday held a series of functions and events across Jammu and Kashmir to mark the Infantry Day, commemorating the landing of the Indian troops at the Srinagar airfield on this day (October 27) in 1947 to push back tribal raiders from Pakistan.
A defence spokesman said here that the 76th Shaurya Diwas was celebrated at various locations across J&K including Northern Command headquarters in the garrison town of Udhampur. The major function in J&K was held at the Budgam Military Garrison near here “to commemorate the gallant actions and the first military victory of Independent India when the Indian Army troops landed at Srinagar to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army of invading Kashmir Valley on October 27, 1947,” the spokesman said.
The first batch of infantry troops from the Indian Army — Sikh Regiment’s first battalion — was airlifted to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, a day after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ to evict the tribal raiders and Pakistani forces. Since the day is celebrated as ‘Infantry Day’ by the Indian Army. The infantry is the largest component and the premier fighting arm of the Indian Army, also known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’.
On Friday, the historic event was re-enacted by the soldiers at the Budgam Military Garrison “to pay obeisance to their fallen colleagues and the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, the spokesman said.
A statement issued by the Army here said that to solemnise the “auspicious occasion” and “honour the martyrs of this epic battle”, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps commander Lt. General Rajiv Ghai and other military and civil dignitaries laid wreath at Budgam War Memorial.
While speaking on the occasion, Lt. Gen. Ghai said the occasion is celebrated “to remember the historic day which ensured J&K is still an integral part of India”.
Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists, however, say that India forcibly occupied J&K on the pretext of the Maharaja’s seeking its military assistance to push back the so-called Pakistani tribal raiders. The separatists also, like some historians, allege that sending in troops by New Delhi had been planned days before they actually arrived at the Srinagar airport on October 27, 1947.
In quite contrast to the ‘black day’ calls from known and obscure political and militant outfit through their posters and leaflets, the activity that stopped after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and like-minded groups have been celebrating the day by organising ‘jubilation’ and ‘victory’ meetings and rallies, asserting the J&K’s accession with Union of India is "complete and final". Also, for the first time since 1947, October 26 was three years ago declared as an official holiday by the J&K government.
