SRINAGAR: Chinar Corps, the Indian Army’s strategic unit guarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, celebrated its 107th Raising Day at the Badami Bagh Cantonment here on Wednesday.
Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen YK Joshi and the Chinar Corps Commander, Lt Gen DP Pandey laid a wreath at Badami Bagh Cantonment War Memorial and reverentially remembered the heroes, the unsung ones and their sacrifices for achieving successes in countless operations, a Defence spokesman said here.
In a statement, the spokesman said that in Oct 1947, the Corps got tethered to Kashmir for the first time when its 161 Inf Bde was tasked to fight the invading Pakistani regulars and Kabailis. All operations during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak conflict were controlled by HQ Jammu and Kashmir Force.
“The Corps had fought in areas south of Pir Panjal, Battle of Zojila with manoeuvre of armour and in Tangdhar also. Later, Chinar Corps in its present Avtar was established at Udhampur when 21 Communication Zone was re-designated as 15 Corps on 04 Jan 1955. The Corps was entrusted with the role of complete security of the State of Jammu & Kashmir,” said the spokesman, adding that “in 1962, the Corps participated in the Battle of Rezanga La and in Sirijap sectors during the Sino-China conflict. The Corps made commendable contributions during 1965 with the capture of Hajipir pass and Tithwal Bridge which were strategic victories for the Indian Army & played an important role during 1971 Indo-Pak war in Shyok valley, Tangdhar and Chicken Neck.”
“On May 1, 1972, the Northern Command Headquarters was established at Udhampur and the Chinar Corps shifted to its present location at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Ever since the Corps has been committed to the mission of ensuring the security of the Kashmir region from external aggression and internal security challenges. Since 1989, when Pakistan launched its Proxy War against India, Chinar Corps has been successfully maintaining the territorial integrity of the Nation. In 1984, the Corps participated in ‘Operation Meghdoot’ on the Siachen Glaciers whose pre-emptive occupation preserved the territorial sanctity of the country,” said the spokesman.
Lt Gen YK Joshi #ArmyCdrNC & #ChinarCorps Cdr on the occasion of 107th Raising Day of #ChinarCorps laid a wreath at BB Cantt War Memorial & paid homage to all #warriors of the Corps who have made the #SupremeSacrifice for the Nation. #AmritMahotsav @adgpi @NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/lqh638loTr
— Chinar Corps🍁 – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) January 12, 2022
“It got actively involved in Counter militancy operations in the 90s. The Corps undertook Op Vijay in 1999 in proud battles of Dras, Muskoh, Kargil and Batalik, and evicted Pakistani intruders. Since then, the counter-infiltration operations along LoC and counter militant operations in the hinterland have been the mainstay. The Corps is continuously striving based on its motto ‘In pursuit of peace and stability in Kashmir’,” he said.
“In the last 106 years of its existence, the Corps has been conferred with 132 Theatre Honours, 92 Battle Honours, 216 COAS Unit citations and 182 GOC-in-C, Norther Command Unit Appreciations. Individually too, the valour of Chinar warriors have been recognised with a proud lineage of more than 4300 awards including 13 Param Vir Chkaras & 22 Ashok Chakras. These honours highlight the selfless sacrifices of its valiant warriors,” the spokesman said in a statement.
On the occasion the corps commander reminded the soldiers of the expectations of the nation from them in view of the extraordinary circumstances in which the unit was operating, the spokesman said.
He exhorted all ranks of the Chinar Corps to continue working hard towards peace and stability in Kashmir.
