Assam regiment to replace Gorkhas

 The signboard in front of the quarter guard on Mhow's Mall Road, which carried information on Battle of Lushai Hills, will soon impart information on Battle of Jessami. The 2nd battalion of Assam regiment is replacing the 4/1 Gorkha regiment in Mhow and the process of handing over of charge is on. 

Mhow military station has premier army training institutions and as per the requirement, Army War College and Infantry School are supported by Infantry battalions. Thus two battalions are deployed in Mhow, one for each of the two institutions. A battalion of Gorkha Regiment is deployed for Army War College and that of Sikh Light Infantry Regiment for Infantry School. 

These battalions are stationed here generally for two to three years . Along with these Infantry battalions, a squadron of Armoured regiment, a battery of Artillery and a company of Mechanized Infantry are also stationed here for demonstration of their capabilities for the training purpose. 

While the Gorkhas were deployed, the signboards carried details of Lushai Battle and other prominent battles they had fought. Lushai battle was a great success for 4/1 Gorkha regiment. There was a lot of disturbance in the Lushai hills which comprise areas of present Mizoram and Tripura states in the late 1860s. Gorkha battalion was deployed in 1871 and it was given battle honours for Lushai battle. 

The signboards will now carry details of the battles won by Assam regiment, one of them is Battle of Jessami - a memorable incident for Assam regiment. It was the first battle with the Japanese on Indian soil. On March 27, 1944, the troops of Assam regiment fought a fierce battle with the 31st Division of Japanese army. Battle was significant as it led to strengthening of defence at Kohima, which played a major role in turning the tide of the Second World War in favour of the allied forces. The Assam regiment was raised in June 1941 by the British to counter the threat of Japanese invasion of India as the route to India was through this north-eastern part of the country. Since its raising, the regiment has won seven battle honours in British India while one honour in post-independence era. 

The major components of the regiment are Assamese, Nagas, Mizos and tribes of Arunachal Pradesh while two battalions of the regiment also have Dogras, Garhwalis and Gorkhas. The tribal character of the regiment helps its troops in excelling in mountain and jungle terrain. The insignia of the regiment is the one horn Rhinoceros and its motto is Assam Vikram, which means unique valor.

Source timesofindia

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