Military operations in Poonch (1948)
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Military operations took place in
Threat to Poonch
Poonch is a small town in Western Jammu, on the confluence of Batar and Suran rivers, which forms the Poonch river. In 1947, it was the seat of the Raja who was a vassal of
being connected only by fair-weather tracks.Pakistan had targeted
The attackers infiltrated Poonch, as part of Operation "Gulmarg", as a springboard to capture the Jammu region. The town was threatened by the raiders when the headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir forces decided to reinforce it from the North.
The relief of Poonch from Jammu was exacerbated by the fact that it lay across many kilometers of hilly terrain with poor communications. Paucity of troops, the need to secure the line of communication and to establish a firm base delayed its relief. The massacre of the populations of the surrounding areas, not only swelled the refugee population in Poonch, but also led to Pandit Nehru's insisting that it be held.[citation needed]
Reinforcement of Poonch
A total of 40,000 refugees sheltered in Poonch fleeing from tribal atrocities in the West.[1]: 91 Since the state forces were grossly inadequate to fend off the raiders, a decision to reinforce the garrison was made by Maj Gen Kalwant Singh, commander of Jammu and Kashmir forces. An attempt by 50 Parachute Brigade, under Brig. Y.S. Paranjpye, was planned. The brigade faced difficult terrain and tough opposition and was not able to relieve Poonch.[5]: 124 161st Infantry Brigade, which had pushed the raiders back to Domel on the Muzzafarabad-Srinagar route, was tasked to link up with Poonch from the North.
Just before Poonch was contacted by the raiders, the town was reinforced on 22 Nov 47 by a column from 161 Brigade which left behind an infantry battalion, 1st Battalion (Parachute),
In January 1948, another battalion of infantry, the 3rd Battalion,
Siege of Poonch
Poonch was isolated by the raiders soon after the reinforcement.
On 12 December 1947, Wing Commander
The air force also attacked the Pakistani columns with Tempests and Harvards.[6] Attacks on Poonch reduced during summer due to the protracted operations in the Uri sector and were resumed in August 1948, necessitating an immediate relief of Poonch.[1]: 93–94
Poonch was referred to as the "Tobruk of Kashmir", though unlike Tobruk, it never fell.[1]: 90
Operation Easy
A relieving force under Brig. Yadunath Singh was assembled at Rajauri, which eventually grew to be division-sized, comprising
The operation commenced on the night of 6/7 November with 5 Brigade advancing on the right of the axis of advance and 19 Brigade on the left flank.
: 257–26219 Infantry Brigade came across determined opposition at Point 5372, a feature southeast of Mendhar, which guarded the route to Kotli. Continuing to demonstrate against Point 5372 as a ruse, the major force was switched to the right flank where opposition was light. These two brigades then captured Pt 5982 and Topa ridge south of Poonch. On 20 November, the Poonch garrison broke through to the south over the hills for the linkup. On 23 November, Mendhar was a captured in a pincer move by 19 Infantry Brigade from the South permitting the Engineers to construct a jeep track via Mendhar to Poonch.[1]: 101–102
Operation Easy resulted in capture of 800 square miles (2,100 km2) of territory. Large numbers of refugees, including 10,000 Muslims were able to get away and obtain relief from the state administration.[1]: 102
Aftermath
While
in between the Indian and Pakistani administered regions of Jammu and Kashmir.The decision to hold and relieve Poonch saved thousands of civilian lives but at the military cost of diverting troops from the capture of Domel and Muzzafarabad during a period of vulnerability[5] as well as diverting troops from the capture of Mirpur and Bhimber, a more meaningful strategical gambit.[9]
See also
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
- 1947 Poonch rebellion
- Operation Datta Khel
- Siege of Skardu
References
- ^ ISBN 81-7094-012-5.
- ^ December 1947 to April 1948 – winter and spring offensive. A research Article written by Peter Almo Kis
- ^ Amin, Agha Humayun (2000). "The War of Lost Opportunities". The Defence Journal. May 2000.
- ^ a b Prasad, S.N.; Dharm Pal (1987). History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947–1948. New Delhi: History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited). p. 418..
- ^ ISBN 0-86131-692-4.
- ^ a b Verma, Kunal. "Operation Poonching". Vayu Aerospace 2000. Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ISBN 0856551309.
- ^ Longer (1974) mentions that the aircraft was a Beechcraft while the Bharat Rakshak article, of Air Force origin and post-2000 vintage, mentions "Harvard", an aircraft known to have been used extensively in the 1947 Indo-Pakistani operation in the Jammu sector.
- ISBN 9780755607204.
External links
- Brig Pritam Singh, MC, Saviour of Poonch. On Govt of India website on Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. Accessed 24 August 2010.