New Delhi, Oct 22: As the world is agitated over the Israel-Hamas-Palestine issue, Kashmiris remember October 22, 1947, as the darkest day in the history of Jammu & Kashmir when Pakistan perpetrated its vile design and got thousands killed to gobble up the independent land, and changed the history in the region.
October 22 is observed as a Black Day in J&K.
When Britishers divided India and allowed the making of Pakistan in 1947, J&K declared itself an independent country. On August 12, 1947, the Maharaja sought a standstill agreement with both India and Pakistan. While India did not sign, Pakistan accepted the offer and on August 15, 1947 sent a communication to Janak Singh, the then Prime Minister of J&K, confirming the same.
But Pakistan had different designs. It wanted J&K by all means and planned and executed an invasion not by its army but by tribesmen. And the raid began early October 22, 1947. Thousands of tribesmen were supplied with arms and ammunition, and transported by the Pakistan Army. The army regulars also joined the raiders in civil clothes.
The invasion was code named ‘Operation Gulmarg’ under the command of Pakistan’s Major General Akbar Khan and the mission was to seize the land.
The tribesmen first took over the bridges spanning Neelum river linking Muzaffarabad and Abbottabad and captured the first major town, Muzaffarabad.
The invaders killed Hindus, Sikhs, looted and burnt their houses. A large number of women and girls were raped and kidnapped. The raiders then moved further towards Uri, Baramulla and reached there on October 26. The mayhem of killings, rapes and plunder was repeated at every stop along the route.
Besides Muzaffarabad, Baramulla was another major town that bore the brunt of the ruthless tribals. Hindus and Sikhs were massacred. Women were raped and kidnapped. The tribals did not even spare the hospital which was run by Christian missionaries.
They killed everyone there, even the Muslim patients. The loot and plunder continued for three days.
It was then that Indian troops landed in Srinagar and a battle began to save Kashmir. By November 8, the Indian Army had taken control of Srinagar, on November 9 of Baramulla, and by November 13 Uri was secured. However, with the Pakistani Army formally entering the battle in support of the tribesmen, the war continued for over a year until a ceasefire was declared on the night of December 31, 1948.
Kashmir was saved but Pakistan took away its slices. Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of the original Kashmir, the borders of which touch Pakistan’s Punjab, Northwest, Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, and Xinjiang region of China.
The frontiers of the princely state of J&K comprised a total area of 2,22,236 sq kms. Upon the signing of the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, the territory belonged to India.
The horrors that the world is witnessing in Israel-Gaza have been long endured by the people of Kashmir at the hands of Pakistan.
History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme, said Mark Twain.
What is being witnessed in the Middle East is something like what Pakistan has been repeatedly perpetrating in Kashmir. (IANS)
