Point 5140 named as ‘Gun Hill’: To commemorate the victory of Indian armed forces and pay tribute to the supreme sacrifice of the gunners in 'Opersation Vijay', Point 5140 at Drass in Kargil has been christened as ‘Gun Hill’.

Key Facts:

• With its deadly and precise firepower, the Regiment of Artillery was able to have a significant impact on the enemy forces and their defences, especially Point 5140, which was essential to the early conclusion of operations in the 1999 Kargil war.
• On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of ‘Operation Vijay’, declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle with Pakistani troops on the icy heights of Kargil in Ladakh.
• The capture of Point 5140 was a key factor in the early completion of operations.
• On behalf of the Regiment of Artillery, a wreath was laid by Lieutenant General T. K. Chawla, Director General of Artillery, at Kargil War Memorial, Drass.
• Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding of Fire and Fury Corps, also laid a wreath on the solemn occasion.
• The ceremony was conducted in the presence of veterans from all artillery regiments, which got the honour title “KARGIL” in Operation Vijay.
• Serving officers of the gunner fraternity were also present during the event.
• This week India marked the 23rd Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army declared victory in Kargil War and successful culmination of Op Vijay.

Kargil War:

• Point 5140 at Dras, one of the highest enemy-occupied posts, was captured on June 20, 1999 by a team led by Kargil hero Captain Vikram Batra.

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2022:

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 since the year 1999, to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict.
• This year was the 22nd years of victory in Kargil war.

History of Kargil War:

• The Kargil War was fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) in which India got the victory.
• In India, the conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay.
• It was fought for more than 60 days, ended on 26 July.
• During the war, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and succeeded in recapturing the Tiger Hill and other posts as a part of Operation Vijay.
• The Indian soldiers had secured this victory after a three-month conflict that led to a loss of lives from both sides with the Indian side losing nearly 490 officers, soldiers, and jawans.

What was the cause of the war?

• The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani troops—disguised as Kashmiri militants—into positions on the Indian side of the LoC, which serves as the de facto border between the two states in Kashmir.
• Pakistan army taking advantage of the melting snow and betraying the bilateral understanding of both the nations (that the post would remain unattended during the winter season) took command of the high outposts of India.
• During the initial stages of the war, Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely on independent Kashmiri insurgents, but documents left behind by casualties and later statements by Pakistan's Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff showed the involvement of Pakistani paramilitary forces,led by General Ashraf Rashid.
• The Indian Army, later supported by the Indian Air Force, recaptured a majority of the positions on the Indian side of the LoC.
• Facing international diplomatic opposition, Pakistani forces withdrew from the remaining Indian positions along the LoC.

Operation White Sea:

• The operation White Sea was also launched during the Kargil war, 1999.
• During the operation, the Indian Air Force jointly acted with Indian Army to flush out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani army.

Operation Vijay:

• Operation was launched twice by the Indian Army in Indian history.
• The first Operation Vijay was launched in 1961 that led to the capture of Goa, Anjediva islands and Daman and Diu while
• the second operation was launched in 1999.
• Both the operations were of huge success.

However, the Kargil Vijay Diwas is marked on the culmination of Kargil war.