Ladakh Scouts | Indian Army's regiment which acts as eyes and ears at LAC

Ladakh Scouts

Ladakh Scouts

The Ladakh Scouts is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed the "Snow Warriors" or "Snow Tigers". The regiment specialises in mountain warfare, and its primary role is to guard India's borders in the high altitudes of the union territory of Ladakh.

Logo of Ladakh Scouts

Raised by Colonel S.P. Salunke, the Ladakh Scouts were converted into an Army regiment in 2000. The Ladakh Scouts recruits mainly from India's Ladakhi and Tibetan ethnic communities, and is among the army's most decorated units. Its soldiers have been honored with over 300 gallantry awards and citations including a Unit citation, one Ashok Chakra, ten Maha Vir Chakras and two Kirti Chakras.

Ladakh Scouts

Ladakh Scouts, Indian Army's regiment which acts as eyes and ears at LAC

Amid the rising border tensions between India and China at lAC, the jawans of  'Ladakh Scouts' are fully ready with the Indian Army to fight against the enemy on the high hills of Ladakh. 
The soldiers of this regiment are recruited from Ladakh because they know every details of the area and are skilled enough to survive on this barren land. Several battalions of Ladakh Scouts are stationed at the Line of Actual Control during the ongoing tension between India and China. The 'Ladakh Scouts' are also called the eyes and ears of other soldiers deployed in the region as they save their lives from enemies.
Ladakh is the only region of India that faces the conspiracy of both Pakistan and China. In 1947, Pakistani intruders attempted to loot the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh via Kargil, but were driven out by the Ladakhi civilians. During that time, Ladakhi youth had formed 7th and 14th Jammu and Kashmir militia and both these battalions took strong positions in areas like Daulat Beg Oldi, Galvan, Hot Spring, Pangang, Chushul during the 1962 Chinese attack. Later the 'Ladakh Scouts' were formed from these two battalions, which was made into a regiment after they displayed exemplary courage and valour during 1999 Kargil war.
Currently, there are 5 battalions in the Ladakh Scouts Regiment, which is made up of youth living in the most difficult regions of Ladakh. These youth are well-trained to function in low oxygen, extremely cold and high altitude operations. The soldiers of 'Ladakh Scouts' are are posted in small teams in the most difficult areas of LAC. There are often soldiers from other regiments who patrol the most difficult areas of the LAC and soldiers of 'Ladakh Scouts' protect them from several threats.

History

In 1948, the "Nubra Guards" were raised from local Ladakhi warriors to patrol India's mountainous border in the Ladakh region. In 1952, the Nubra Guards were merged as the 7th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Militia (which itself later became the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry). The 14th Battalion of the militia was also raised from Ladakh in 1959.

On 1 June 1963, following the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Ladakh Scouts was formed by spinning off the 7th and 14th Battalions of the J&K Militia, and the unit was given the role of reconnaissance and interdiction in the high-altitude border regions by the Government of India.

After the Kargil War, the Ladakh Scouts was reformed as a standard infantry regiment on 1 June 2000. Its parent regiment is the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, but it trains and fights as an independent unit for all intents and purposes.

On 2 June 2013, it celebrated its Golden Jubilee to mark the merger between the Nubra Guards and the 7th Battalion of the J&K light infantry.

Units

The regiment currently consists of 5 battalions, with support personnel affiliated to other arms of the Indian army seconded in on rotation.

Recent Engagements

Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971

Units of the regiment have been deployed in combat in every major Indian operation since the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. The Scouts also received battle honours in the undeclared western theatre of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 which led to the independence of East Pakistan.

Operation Meghdoot

Units of the Ladakh Scouts were deployed with 3 rd Kumaon Rifles to capture the Siachen Glacier in April 1984, as a part of Operation Meghdoot.

Kargil War

The Ladakh Scouts were one of the first units to be deployed in combat action for Operation Vijay. Its units displayed exemplary gallantry and won numerous awards, including a Maha Vir Chakra for Major Sonam Wangchuk. The Scouts were awarded a Unit Citation for their gallantry during the battles of Point 5000 on 5-6 July 1999, Dog Hill on the night 30 June-1 July, and Padma Go on 9-10 July 1999, in the Batalik Sector. The citation recognised the unit's performance with distinction during Operation Vijay and display of exemplary valour and grit in the face of the enemy.

Kargil war

See also

• Indian Army

• Gorkha Regiments

• Ladakh