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Naga Regiment

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Naga Regiment
Regimental Insignia of the Naga Regiment
Active1970–present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
TypeLine Infantry
RoleInfantry
Size3 battalions
Regimental CentreRanikhet, Uttarakhand, India
Nickname(s)The Head Hunters
War CryJai Durga Naga (Hail Durga Naga)
Decorations1 Maha Vir Chakra, 4 Vir Chakras, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, 1 Vishisht Seva Medal, 10 Sena Medal,1 Kirti Chakra, 1 Shaurya Chakra[1]
Website[1]
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		Lt Gen Ram Chandra Tiwari[2]
Insignia
Regimental InsigniaA pair of crossed Naga spears and a dao (a cutting weapon used in Nagaland), with a shield bearing a mithun (bull) head.[1]

The Naga Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It is among the youngest regiments of the Indian Army - the first battalion was raised in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand in 1970. The regiment recruits mainly from Nagaland, in northeast India.[1][3][4]

History

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Formation

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The first battalion of the regiment (1 Naga) was raised at the Kumaon Regimental Centre, Ranikhet on 1 November 1970 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel. R.N. Mahajan, VSM. Being the only battalion, it was then designated as the Naga Regiment. The manpower to raise this battalion was provided by battalions of the Kumaon Regiment, Garhwal Rifles and 3 Gorkha Rifles. 69 Nagas were enrolled directly from rehabilitation camps of underground Nagas. However, the regiment's troops were to be 50% Nagas and 50% of an equal number of Kumaonis, Garhwalis and Gorkhas. Since many Kumaon battalions had been associated with Nagaland, particularly in the years preceding the raising of the Naga Regiment, it was affiliated to the Kumaon Regiment for all regimental matters. The second battalion (2 Naga) was raised on 11 February 1985 at Haldwani and the third battalion (3 Naga) was raised on 1 October 2009 at Haldwani.[5][6]

Regimental heraldry

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The traditional Naga weapons viz the Dao, the Spear and the prestigious Mithun have been integrated into the Regimental Crest. The regiment's colours are gold, green and red - the gold signifies the rising sun, the green signifies the infantry and red is the colour of authority among Nagas. The motto of the regiment is Parakramo vijayate (Valour triumphs) and the battle cry is Jai Durga Naga (Victory to Durga Naga).[7][8]

Operations

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Operation Romeo

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The 2nd battalion of the regiment (2 Naga) was inducted into Keran sector of Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, where it was responsible for ensuring the sanctity of approximately 24 kilometres of Line of Control (LoC) and also to counter anti-national elements and their operations. It was in this sector that 2 Naga participated in one of the landmark operations - Operation Romeo. The goal of this operation was to dominate the LoC. The entire operation was carried out with clockwork precision and without any casualties to Indian troops.[9]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

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Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The 1st battalion (1 Naga) took part in operations in East Pakistan under 4 Infantry Division, which was part of 2 Corps. It earned a name for the regiment and was awarded one Vir Chakra and three Sena Medals.[10]

UN Mission

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2 Naga has been deployed on the United Nations Mission in Sudan in 2008 and was awarded with UN Force Commander's Appreciation Card.[9][11]

Kargil War

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1 Naga reached Dras on 11 May 1999. In the attack on Tololing, it supported 2 Rajputana Rifles. After the capture of Tololing 1 Naga was assigned to capture the hill feature of Black Tooth, which is successfully did. In July 1999, the regiment captured the formations Pimple and Point 5060.[12] 2 Naga was deployed as part of Operation Vijay in order to push back Pakistani infiltrators who had crossed the LoC in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir. It was one of the first units to be inducted into the theatre of conflict.[13] An assault group from 2 Naga attacked and destroyed a heavily guarded Pakistani mortar position and ammunition dump on Twin Bump in the Point 4875 complex, an action for which Sepoy Imliakum Ao was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.[13] 2 Naga also took part in the assault on Tiger Hill, where it attacked the mountain from its left flank.[14][9]

ZAPAD 2021

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3rd Battalion, the Naga Regiment represented India and Indian military in the Multilateral Joint Strategic Exercise ZAPAD 2021 which was held at Russia.[15][16]

Issues

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Although two battalions of the Naga Regiment were raised as per the historic 16-point 1960 agreement that facilitated the formation of Nagaland state, as of 2001 there were complaints that there was no proper representation of Naga youths in the regiment, headquartered at Ranikhet in Uttarakhand. Nagaland comes under dispensation category and the education standard required for soldier general duty (GD) category is only class-V standard for tribal candidates.

The Army then conducted a special recruitment drive for all category of posts to recruit 325 Naga youths across the state. GOC Nagaland, Major General R. N. Kapur, said at least 3,000 Naga youths would be recruited in the Army, Assam Rifles and reserve battalions in 2014 and hoped the youth would avail the opportunity to join the armed forces.[11]

Units

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Battalion Raising Date Remarks References
1st Battalion 1 November 1970 Nicknamed The First Headhunters, raised at the Kumaon Regimental Centre, Ranikhet by Lieutenant Colonel (later Lieutenant General) RN Mahajan. Battle Honour Dras and Theatre Honour Kargil. Also awarded with three Army Commander Citations in 1999, 2013 and 2024. The most decorated of the three units. [6]
2nd Battalion 11 February 1985 Nicknamed Second to None Headhunters, raised at Haldwani by Lieutenant Colonel PS Sejwan. Two COAS Unit Citations, three Army Commanders Unit Citations and a Governor’s Plaque of Appreciation. Battle Honour Mushkoh and Theatre Honour Kargil [6][9]
3rd Battalion 1 October 2009 Raised at Haldwani. COAS' Unit Citation in 2021. [6][17][18]
Territorial Army Battalions
164 Infantry Battalion (TA) (Home & Hearth) 1 November 2006 Nicknamed the Naga Terriers, located at Zakhama, Nagaland. [19]
Rashtriya Rifles
60 Rashtirya Rifles

Decorations

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President's Colour Award

1 Naga was presented with 'Colours' on 6 May 1978 at Dehradun by Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the President of India and 2 Naga was presented with 'Colours' on 10 May 1990 by General V.N. Sharma PVSM, ADC, the Chief of Army Staff.[20] 3 Naga was presented with ‘Colours’ on 13 October 2023 in Ranikhet by General Manoj Pande PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, the Chief of Army Staff.[6][21]

Gallantry awards

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Webmaster I. "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - The Naga Regiment". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Army chief presents the President's Colours to Naga Regiment". 13 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ "The Journal of the Kumaon Rgiment: Naga Regiment and Kumaon Scouts. by Issas, SK, editor-in-chief: Very Good Softcover (1983) | curtis paul books, inc". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Naga Regiment: Past of combating insurgency without preparation". News Riveting. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Birth of the NAGA Regiment". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "3 Naga, youngest Naga battalion, gets President's Colour". 13 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ^ Tyagi, Vidya Prakash (2009). Martial races of undivided India. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 115–118. ISBN 978-8178357751.
  8. ^ "Infantry Regiments: The cutting edge of Soldiering". 24 January 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "An account of operations of 2nd Battalion of the Naga Regiment". 19 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Naga Regiment's Baptism with fire". 5 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b John Pike. "Naga Regiment". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Actions of 1st Battalion of Naga Regiment during OPERATION VIJAY (Kargil)". 12 October 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b "This Kargil War Hero, a Maha vir Chakra Awardee, Continues to Inspire the Nation". 14 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Head hunters in Kargil – Naga Regiment". 21 July 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  15. ^ "'ZAPAD 2021': India Army to take part in theatre level exercise with 17 nations". NewsOnAIR -. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Indian Army display firepower, air stunts at Zapad 2021; China & Pakistan watch". Hindustan Times. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Naga Regiment selected for award". 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. ^ "3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment". 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  19. ^ "164th Infantry Bn celebrates 16th raising day". 1 November 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  20. ^ Webmaster I. "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - The Naga Regiment". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  21. ^ "ARMY CHIEF PRESENTS THE PRESIDENT'S COLOURS TO THIRD BATTALION THE NAGA REGIMENT". 13 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Subedar (Then, Sepoy) IMLIAKUM AO". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  23. ^ "DAVID MANLUN". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Joseph Chang Anal". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Deepankar Kapoor Singh Sharawat". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Khushiman Gurung". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  27. ^ "K Ashuli". Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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  29. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 723" (PDF). 2 April 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 480" (PDF). 17 March 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 239" (PDF). 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 241" (PDF). 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Gazette of India, No 11, page 276-7" (PDF). 18 March 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Gazette of India, No 31, page 320" (PDF). 31 July 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  35. ^ "Gazette of India, No 48, page 1174-5" (PDF). 26 November 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 700-2" (PDF). 2 April 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 472-4" (PDF). 17 March 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 247" (PDF). 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Gazette of India, No 11, page 529-31" (PDF). 13 March 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Gazette of India, No 45, page 922-3" (PDF). 11 November 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Gazette of India, No 13, page 530-31" (PDF). 30 March 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  42. ^ "Gazette of India, No 12, page 382" (PDF). 21 March 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  43. ^ "Gazette of India, No 11, page 124" (PDF). 16 March 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2023.

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