Citations for some angers Artillery units

KARGIL, July 14: The Army's decision to bestow unit citations on all infantry units for their commendable role in Operation Vijay has irk...

KARGIL, July 14: The Army’s decision to bestow unit citations on all infantry units for their commendable role in Operation Vijay has irked the artillery regiments deployed in the Kargil Drass sector as they feel that they have been overlooked.

Though two of the Sikh Artillery regiments-one Bofors and one field-were conferred with unit citations, the rank and file of other units feel let down as their contributions in the success of Operation Vijay was not recognised by the top brass of the army headquarters.

Unit citation is a certificate issued by the army chief acknowledging the valour and dedication by a particular unit during an action. Each unit and its personnel consider a citation as a real recognition as it is given during the battle itself.

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“This is highly demoralising,” said an officer. “We are not trying to say that we alone are responsible for India’s victory. But, we have played a part which is no way is lesser than the one played by the infantry soldiers.”

“If the artillery had notgiven the kind of support that it extended during the war, it would not have been possible for the infantry to so successfully rout the enemy at many fronts,” another officer pointed out. For the first time in Indian military history, Operation Vijay was a prefect coordination between the artillery and infantry.

The Kargil operation has undoubtedly underscored the ability of artillery units especially the Bofors regiment. Many of the bunkers occupied by the intruders in the higher altitudes were softened using these guns and this helped the infantry to advance more confidently. Contrary to the conventional practice of giving cover fire, the artillery resorted to the direct firing throughout the operation.

Moreover, the accuracy of the Bofors gun enabled them to shell at enemy positions, even when the Indian troops were hardly 100 mts away. “Had we not carried out direct firing at these posts, the casualties would have been manifold,” a captain said while registering his protest over the army’sdecision.

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In fact, the cease-fire decision itself has caused resentment among the soldiers taking part in Operation Vijay. “We were so close to achieving the target, and there was no need for calling off the operation at this juncture,” a major said.

“They have killed my friends, so naturally I would have loved to chase them and kill them,” he added. When the government decided to have 72 hours cease-fire, the forces were just short of reaching the Line of Control (LoC), in many sectors. Several other senior officers also opined that cease-fire was an untimely decision.