Param Vir Chakra: Sanjay Kumar

The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles traces its origins to the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. The regiment was raised in 1820 as a state force by Maharaja Gulab Singh. Between 1834 and 1895, General Zorawar expanded the state’s territory to Ladakh, Baltistan, Tibet, Gilgit, Yasin, Darel, Hunza-Nagar, Chilas and Chitral. During the 1947-48 invasion of J and K by Pakistan, the regiment fought heroically against the invaders thus gaining time for the Indian army to come to the aid of the beleaguered state. In the fighting that followed, 76 officers, 31 JCOs and 1,085 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice. For their gallant stand, the regiment earned 3 MVCs, 20 VRCs and 52 mention-in- despatches. India’s first MVC was awarded to brigadier Rajinder Singh of the regiment who died fighting the invaders. 13 Jammu and Kashmir rifles was raised on 1 October 1966. The unit consisted of Dogra troops from the states of J and K and Himachal Pradesh.