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Lesser known Tibetan and Indian Warriors
Nubra Guards
^ Nubra Guards paroling Tibetan border 1967
Lama Fauj
Ethnic Tibetans have been a part and parcel of the modern Indian Army for as long as it has existed. Independent formations of Tibetan (including Ladakhi, Bon, Sikkimese) units were to patrol and police the lands they were native to.
During the time of the Great Game, the British Indian Army began to employ Tibetans as spies, intelligence agents, and even covert militia in northern India and Tibet proper. (See Kipling's Kim for an example.)
At the time of independence, the Northern Hills of India remained the most isolated and strategically overlooked territory of India. India was to pay a heavy price for this ignorance, when Tibet was invaded by the People's Republic of China, and India was in no position to militarily intervene.
" The "22-ers" as they called themselves became one of the world's most premier Mountain special operations force units in the world.
Special Frontier Force
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a paramilitary unit of India. It was conceived in the post Sino-Indian war period as a guerrilla force composed mainly of Tibetan refugees whose main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in case of another war between the People's Republic of China and India.
Based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand, SFF is also known as the Establishment 22. The force was put under the direct supervision of the Intelligence Bureau, and later, the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Training
Most training is still conducted at Chakrata, lasting nine months and is similar to India Army training, with extensive additional courses on guerrilla tactics, mountain and jungle warfare. All commandos are parachute qualified after five jumps, with three refresher jumps every year. SFF personnels are trained in four basic areas:
* Mountain: Experts in mountain and Arctic warfare, these men are trained to survive and fight in extreme conditions. Mountain troops' skills can be called on anywhere from the Siachen Glacier to the Himalayan ranges in the east. They are also known to have trained in the famed German Alpine Guides course at the Mountain Warfare School at Mittenwald and the High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg reaching proficiency levels that rival the best climbers in the world.
* Amphibious: This troop's combat divers are the outfit's amphibious experts. In essence, it provides a comparable amphibious warfare capability to the SFF as the MARCOS provide to the Indian Navy. While they have overlapping mission profiles, the Special Group clearly does not have as extensively maritime roles. There is close cooperation and cross-training between its amphibious troops and the MARCOS and a rivalry exists between them.
* Air: Air Troop is the Special Group's free-fall parachuting specialists, tasked with jumping behind enemy lines, either on their own missions or to pave the way for other squadron troops. Air Troop also employ less conventional forms of air insertion such as micro-lites and powered parachutes. For HALO/HAHO combat jumps skydivers use square-type RAM parachutes which are more maneuverable also allow for softer, controlled landings than the standard round chutes.
Ladakh Scouts
^ Jawan of Ladakh Scouts addressing the residents of captured Pakistani village, 1971
Ladakh has been a front for many battles. This resulted in a unique breed of warriors. The Ladakhis took part in all wars fought in India since Independence. The Nunoos, as the Ladakhis are called in affection, are skilled mountain warriors and are unsurpassed in high altitude and white-out operations. Ladakh Scouts has inherited these qualities most naturally.
Indian Army's Ladakh Scouts is a 4,000-man paramilitary unit of local Buddhists and Tibetan commandos. The famed fighters, nicknamed 'Snow Tigers', is one of the Army's most decorated units, with more than 300 gallantry awards to it's credit including one Ashok Chakra, ten Mahavir Chakras and two Kirti Chakras.
With so many families in the hills of Garhwal and Kumaon who have sons (and daughters) in the military, the conflict in Kashmir has taken a heavy toll. The Garhwal Rifles, as well as other Himalayan regiments (the Gurkha Rifles, Ladakh Scouts, Naga Regiments, and Jammu and Kashmir Infantry) were all entrusted with operations in Kargil in 1999. They joined their Sikh, Rajasthani, Mahar, and Bihari brothers as a multicultural and multifaith force on the frontlines, suffering the brunt of casualities in defense of the state.
Ladakh is part of the Indian sector of divided Kashmir. The region of Ladakh spread over an area of 96,701 sq.Km. and consists of two districts, Leh and Kargil. Kashmir fighting has engulfed Ladakh's Buddhists. The 100,000 followers of Tibetan Buddhism who are caught in a half-century of war between local Muslims and Hindus, and between Pakistan and India, for control over the disputed territory. The word Ladakh is the ancient name of the third region of Jammu and Kashmir and not relates to any ethnic group, caste, creed or religion.
The Ladakh Scouts, which is considered to be the "eyes and ears" of the Indian Army, had been serving the nation ever since its inception, under most inhospitable high altitude and arctic weather conditions with zeal and dedication. Not only this unit served the nation by guarding the high altitude and inhospitable borders but has also helped directly or indirectly to build the shattered economy of Ladakh which had suffered badly due to three wars with Pakistan and one war with China. The Ladakh scouts in its short history of nearly 50 years have earned countless distinctions and gallantry awards as one of the highly decorated unit in the Indian Army, while rendering service to the nation.
The Ladakh Scouts was raised in 1963 in the wake of 1962 debacle against Chinese forces. It was the first unit of the Indian Army to successfully launch the counter strike against Pakistani incursions in Kargil operations in 1999 in Batalik sector.
The Ladakh Scouts has a glorious history which dates back 1948 Skirmishes with Pakistan. Soon after independence, in order to save Ladakh from the Qabalies (intruders) who came from across the border; the "National Guards" were formed out of the local Ladakhi warriors. In 1952 they formed the erstwhile 7th J&K Militia. The 14th J&K Militia was subsequently raised in 1959 at Srinagar. On first June 1963, Ladakh Scouts (I Border Scouts) was raised by the merger of 7th and 14th J&K militia. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Ladakh Scouts launched a brilliant attack in Turtok Sector and advanced 22 kms into the enemy territory in just 14 days, thereby liberating 804 sq kms of area. During 1971 operations, 804 sq km of Turtuk was liberated by Ladakh Scouts for which they were honoured with the Battle Honour "Turtuk - 1971".
The period from 1982 to 1985 witnessed the reorganisation. In 1983, Ladakh Scouts was reorganised into a Headquarter and two wings viz "Karakoram Wing" and the "Indus Wing". The regiment has been pioneers in the Siachen Glacier during operation Meghdoot. During operation Vijay the Scouts performed their classical role in cliff assault which was instrumental in achieving success in the operation.
The Ladakhi Scouts, a small force of a few battalions, displayed several gallant acts during Operation Vijay and won quite a few gallantry awards, including a Maha Vir Chakra for Major Sonam Wangchuk. The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to Ladakh Scouts for their meritorious and gallant performance during the battles of Point 5000 on night 05/06 July Dog Hill on night 30 June/01 July , and Padma Go on night 09/10 July 1999, in Batalik Sector. The unit performed with distinction during Operation "Vijay" and displayed exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.
In August 1999 the Indian Army planned a multi-prong strategy to combat Islamic terrorism in Kashmir region. It includes increased recruitment of Kashmiri youths, strengthening of the Ladakh Scouts by merging it with the army as a regiment, and setting up of a new corps headquarters at Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The central idea of the strategy be to strengthen Indian army's presence on the Line of Control with additional deployment of 'early warning troops' such as the Ladakh Scouts.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian paramilitary force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometers.
Only four battalions were sanctioned to begin with, to fill up the security vacuum that was prevalent at that time on the Indo - Tibet border. Later in view of the additional responsibilities and the task redefined in 1976, the Force was restructured in 1978.
Naga Regiment
The Naga Regiment is the youngest Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1970, the First Battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet.
The Garhwal Rifles
The Garhwal Rifles is a light infantry or 'rifle' regiment of the Indian Army.
Gorkha regiments
Gorkha regiments have been serving in the Indian Army ever since independence in 1947, when the Tripartite Agreement was signed. The regiments have served gallantly under the Indian Army.
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
Assam Regiment
Nubra Guards
^ Nubra Guards paroling Tibetan border 1967
Lama Fauj
Ethnic Tibetans have been a part and parcel of the modern Indian Army for as long as it has existed. Independent formations of Tibetan (including Ladakhi, Bon, Sikkimese) units were to patrol and police the lands they were native to.
During the time of the Great Game, the British Indian Army began to employ Tibetans as spies, intelligence agents, and even covert militia in northern India and Tibet proper. (See Kipling's Kim for an example.)
At the time of independence, the Northern Hills of India remained the most isolated and strategically overlooked territory of India. India was to pay a heavy price for this ignorance, when Tibet was invaded by the People's Republic of China, and India was in no position to militarily intervene.
" The "22-ers" as they called themselves became one of the world's most premier Mountain special operations force units in the world.
Special Frontier Force
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a paramilitary unit of India. It was conceived in the post Sino-Indian war period as a guerrilla force composed mainly of Tibetan refugees whose main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in case of another war between the People's Republic of China and India.
Based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand, SFF is also known as the Establishment 22. The force was put under the direct supervision of the Intelligence Bureau, and later, the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Training
Most training is still conducted at Chakrata, lasting nine months and is similar to India Army training, with extensive additional courses on guerrilla tactics, mountain and jungle warfare. All commandos are parachute qualified after five jumps, with three refresher jumps every year. SFF personnels are trained in four basic areas:
* Mountain: Experts in mountain and Arctic warfare, these men are trained to survive and fight in extreme conditions. Mountain troops' skills can be called on anywhere from the Siachen Glacier to the Himalayan ranges in the east. They are also known to have trained in the famed German Alpine Guides course at the Mountain Warfare School at Mittenwald and the High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg reaching proficiency levels that rival the best climbers in the world.
* Amphibious: This troop's combat divers are the outfit's amphibious experts. In essence, it provides a comparable amphibious warfare capability to the SFF as the MARCOS provide to the Indian Navy. While they have overlapping mission profiles, the Special Group clearly does not have as extensively maritime roles. There is close cooperation and cross-training between its amphibious troops and the MARCOS and a rivalry exists between them.
* Air: Air Troop is the Special Group's free-fall parachuting specialists, tasked with jumping behind enemy lines, either on their own missions or to pave the way for other squadron troops. Air Troop also employ less conventional forms of air insertion such as micro-lites and powered parachutes. For HALO/HAHO combat jumps skydivers use square-type RAM parachutes which are more maneuverable also allow for softer, controlled landings than the standard round chutes.
Ladakh Scouts
^ Jawan of Ladakh Scouts addressing the residents of captured Pakistani village, 1971
Ladakh has been a front for many battles. This resulted in a unique breed of warriors. The Ladakhis took part in all wars fought in India since Independence. The Nunoos, as the Ladakhis are called in affection, are skilled mountain warriors and are unsurpassed in high altitude and white-out operations. Ladakh Scouts has inherited these qualities most naturally.
Indian Army's Ladakh Scouts is a 4,000-man paramilitary unit of local Buddhists and Tibetan commandos. The famed fighters, nicknamed 'Snow Tigers', is one of the Army's most decorated units, with more than 300 gallantry awards to it's credit including one Ashok Chakra, ten Mahavir Chakras and two Kirti Chakras.
With so many families in the hills of Garhwal and Kumaon who have sons (and daughters) in the military, the conflict in Kashmir has taken a heavy toll. The Garhwal Rifles, as well as other Himalayan regiments (the Gurkha Rifles, Ladakh Scouts, Naga Regiments, and Jammu and Kashmir Infantry) were all entrusted with operations in Kargil in 1999. They joined their Sikh, Rajasthani, Mahar, and Bihari brothers as a multicultural and multifaith force on the frontlines, suffering the brunt of casualities in defense of the state.
Ladakh is part of the Indian sector of divided Kashmir. The region of Ladakh spread over an area of 96,701 sq.Km. and consists of two districts, Leh and Kargil. Kashmir fighting has engulfed Ladakh's Buddhists. The 100,000 followers of Tibetan Buddhism who are caught in a half-century of war between local Muslims and Hindus, and between Pakistan and India, for control over the disputed territory. The word Ladakh is the ancient name of the third region of Jammu and Kashmir and not relates to any ethnic group, caste, creed or religion.
The Ladakh Scouts, which is considered to be the "eyes and ears" of the Indian Army, had been serving the nation ever since its inception, under most inhospitable high altitude and arctic weather conditions with zeal and dedication. Not only this unit served the nation by guarding the high altitude and inhospitable borders but has also helped directly or indirectly to build the shattered economy of Ladakh which had suffered badly due to three wars with Pakistan and one war with China. The Ladakh scouts in its short history of nearly 50 years have earned countless distinctions and gallantry awards as one of the highly decorated unit in the Indian Army, while rendering service to the nation.
The Ladakh Scouts was raised in 1963 in the wake of 1962 debacle against Chinese forces. It was the first unit of the Indian Army to successfully launch the counter strike against Pakistani incursions in Kargil operations in 1999 in Batalik sector.
The Ladakh Scouts has a glorious history which dates back 1948 Skirmishes with Pakistan. Soon after independence, in order to save Ladakh from the Qabalies (intruders) who came from across the border; the "National Guards" were formed out of the local Ladakhi warriors. In 1952 they formed the erstwhile 7th J&K Militia. The 14th J&K Militia was subsequently raised in 1959 at Srinagar. On first June 1963, Ladakh Scouts (I Border Scouts) was raised by the merger of 7th and 14th J&K militia. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Ladakh Scouts launched a brilliant attack in Turtok Sector and advanced 22 kms into the enemy territory in just 14 days, thereby liberating 804 sq kms of area. During 1971 operations, 804 sq km of Turtuk was liberated by Ladakh Scouts for which they were honoured with the Battle Honour "Turtuk - 1971".
The period from 1982 to 1985 witnessed the reorganisation. In 1983, Ladakh Scouts was reorganised into a Headquarter and two wings viz "Karakoram Wing" and the "Indus Wing". The regiment has been pioneers in the Siachen Glacier during operation Meghdoot. During operation Vijay the Scouts performed their classical role in cliff assault which was instrumental in achieving success in the operation.
The Ladakhi Scouts, a small force of a few battalions, displayed several gallant acts during Operation Vijay and won quite a few gallantry awards, including a Maha Vir Chakra for Major Sonam Wangchuk. The Chief of Army Staff made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to Ladakh Scouts for their meritorious and gallant performance during the battles of Point 5000 on night 05/06 July Dog Hill on night 30 June/01 July , and Padma Go on night 09/10 July 1999, in Batalik Sector. The unit performed with distinction during Operation "Vijay" and displayed exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.
In August 1999 the Indian Army planned a multi-prong strategy to combat Islamic terrorism in Kashmir region. It includes increased recruitment of Kashmiri youths, strengthening of the Ladakh Scouts by merging it with the army as a regiment, and setting up of a new corps headquarters at Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The central idea of the strategy be to strengthen Indian army's presence on the Line of Control with additional deployment of 'early warning troops' such as the Ladakh Scouts.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian paramilitary force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometers.
Only four battalions were sanctioned to begin with, to fill up the security vacuum that was prevalent at that time on the Indo - Tibet border. Later in view of the additional responsibilities and the task redefined in 1976, the Force was restructured in 1978.
Naga Regiment
The Naga Regiment is the youngest Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1970, the First Battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet.
The Garhwal Rifles
The Garhwal Rifles is a light infantry or 'rifle' regiment of the Indian Army.
Gorkha regiments
Gorkha regiments have been serving in the Indian Army ever since independence in 1947, when the Tripartite Agreement was signed. The regiments have served gallantly under the Indian Army.
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
Assam Regiment
