861 Missile Regiment (India)

861 Light Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) is a light equipped regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

861 Light Regiment
Active	1963 – present
Country	India
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Artillery
Size	Regiment
Motto(s)	Sarvatra Izat O Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors	"Red & Navy Blue"
Equipment	[[]]
Decorations	Sena Medal 1 COAS Commendation Card 4 VCOAS Commendation Card 7 GOC-in-C Commendation Card 9

History

Formation

861 Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) traces its origin from the Border Scouts Battalion. It was raised as the 863 Light Battery by amalgamating a nucleus of 121 (Independent) Heavy Mortar Battery (Congo) and a battery of 35 Heavy Mortar Regiment on 20 June 1963. Lieutenant Colonel Sewa Ram was the first Commanding Officer. 86 Light Regiment was eventually formed with three batteries – 121 Heavy Mortar Battery, 862 Light Battery and 863 Light Battery.^[1] This eventually evolved to become the 861 Light Regiment.

Operations

United Nations Operation in the Congo

121 Heavy Mortar Battery participated in the Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo under 99 Infantry Brigade.^[2][3]

Indo-Pak War (1965)

86 Light Regiment participated in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Regiment provided fire power to 28 Infantry Brigade of 10 Infantry Division in the Battle of Chamb. The devastating shelling by the Regiment on 3 and 4 December 1971 helped beat back the attack on Picquet 707. The shelling on 6 and 7 December 1971 similarly prevented the attack on Laleali.^[4] The Regiment along with 8 Jammu and Kashmir Militia (now Light Infantry) were awarded the battle honours Laleali and Picquet 707.^[5][6][7]

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References

1. "861-missile-regiment". 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
2. Sharma, SK (1997). Indian Army: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Lancer Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-1897829011.
3. "Congo – First African War And Indian Soldiers (1960-64).doc". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
4. Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. p. 76-100. ISBN 978-1897829554.
5. Khullar, Darshan (2017). Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9385563973.
6. Chandar, Col Y Udaya (2018). Independent India's All the Seven Wars. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1948473217.
7. "Hindustan Times article "Sitrep - A commander who led from the front"". 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.