NEW DELHI, Oct 27:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the ‘never-say-die’ attitude of the Army as it celebrated the Infantry Day, marking the airlifting of first unit of the Sikh Regiment to Srinagar in 1947 to liberate Kashmir from invading Pakistani troops and tribals.
“Salutations to all ranks of our infantry on 68th Infantry Day. We remember with great pride all infantry martyrs who lived & died for India,” he tweeted.
“‘Never-say-die’ attitude of our infantry has always been a prized asset of our armed forces. Courage & valour of our infantry is admirable,” Modi said in another tweet.
October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by Indian Army as it was on this day that an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from invading tribals who were supported by Pakistan army.
This action was ordered by the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession acceding Jammu Kashmir to India.
Pakistan army had launched ‘Operation Gulmarg’ in early October 1947 using tribals to annex Jammu and Kashmir.
On October 22, 1947, about 5,000 tribals, supported by Pakistan army, invaded the Kashmir valley from Abbottabad. Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of the State, signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, thus making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India and Indian Army was thereafter ordered to evict the invaders. (PTI)
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