Jat Regiment raises new battalion

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

The Jat Regiment, which draws its manpower primarily from the state of Haryana and its adjoining areas, has raised a new battalion as part of the Army’s force accretion programme and ongoing restructuring.

The new unit, regiment’s the 23rd Battalion, became operational at the Jat Regimental Centre in Bareilly this week. The new unit, with motto “Do Aur Teen, Behetareen”, will shortly be on its maiden deployment in Punjab. Colonel TS Hothi is the battalion’s first commanding officer.

The raising of the new battalion was marked by the inauguration of the unit’s Quarter Guard and hoisting of the regimental flag. This was followed by a special sainik sammelan, where the Commandant of the Indian Military Academy Lt Gen SK Saini, who is also Colonel of the Jat Regiment, addressed the troops. Centre Commandant Brig AN Jha and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

This is the second Jat battalion to be raised in recent years. The regiment’s 22nd Battalion was raised in 2012. With the new raising, the Jat Regiment’s strength has risen to 20 regular infantry battalions and two Territorial Army battalions.