SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 Jammu and Kashmir in and before the turbulent 1947 Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Suresh Chander Maharaj Ganj which is a business locality and loot spondence exchanged between different official According to Snedden, Christopher ( (2013) over an extensive area followed. From Bohri Kadal agencies/Officers of the State Government and (first published as The Untold Story of the People or an understanding of the contemporary to Ail Kadal a long stretch, the Hindu shops were Indian (British) Government, describing the events of Azad Kashmir, 2012)" Kashmir: The Unwritten scenario it is necessary to take a dispassion- raided. Other localities such as Safa Kadal, Ganji, of 1931, is preserved in the British Library in Lon- History" HarperCollins), "A 'greatly shocked' Sar- ate view of the happenings in Jammu and Rajnath flies Tejas F Khud and Nawa Kadal too formed the centers of don. The incidents in Kotli are documented in Fight dar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan', the then president Kashmir in and before the turbulent 1947. Com- ndia is on the threshold of emerging more loot. Bazar streets were littered with property, for Freedom by Justice Muhammad Yusuf Saraf, of "Azad" Kashmir, who visited the place during munal unity then proved fragile as political ambi- books of accounts were burnt: the Hindu shopkeep- ex-Chief Justice of "Azad" Kashmir, as the occu- zestful and spirited in securing its place in the tions soared high. It remains under threat even the event, "painfully confirmed that Hindus were ers were molested, in short, pandemonium pre- pied territory across the Line of Control is locally 'disposed of' in Mirpur in November 1947, though comity of nations as an emerging power with today. If it is to be preserved good sense ought to vailed...The Hindu merchants lost lakhs worth of known. I prevail. he does not mention any figures." goods. Mr. Wakefield has affirmed that the articles Jammu - Mirpur Massacre in 1947 emphasis, among other things, on reaping the Beginning with New Kashmir or Naya Kash- The irony was that it was on the explicit orders were so strewn about the roads that his car would Yusuf Saraf estimates the number of Muslims of Sardar Ibrahim Khan that all educated menfolk, fruits of 'Make in India' by using sensitive and mir, it was a bold document prepared by the Nation- not pass, it is also his testimony that not a single killed in Jammu between 20,000 and 30,000. These lawyers (they included many of his colleagues at technically sophisticated indigenously made al Conference underlining the unity as the theme: Mohammedan complained to him about his prem- killings were senseless and unjustified. It was part the Bar), teachers and others were slaughtered not "We the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, ises having been invaded by the looters". (George of a bigger shameful picture of partition when more machines , be they spacecraft or fighter aircraft frontier districts and Poonch and Chenani Illaqas, just killed. or a modern battle tank and the like. We have Wakefield was the Prime Minister of Jammu and than a million people lost their lives. Loss of prop- known as the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Kashmir at that time.) erty was insignificant to loss of lives. Tribals in Baramulla heard about the Tejas, a multi role fighter aircraft, common parlance, pledge ourselves to endorse and The tragedy of Baramulla was equally grim. but not to mention about its special critical capa- support this Constitution ..." Sheikh Abdullah per- Pashtun tribesmen captured Baramulla on October sonally presented the New Kashmir plan to the This communal frenzy then spread to the 25, 1947. They looted, raped, killed, burned and bilities to meet the requirements of the IAF to Maharaja after garlanding him when the royal pro- vandalized shrines and temples. They raped and strengthen India's air defence capabilities would cession passed by the Mujahid Manzil. Within killed without descrimination Muslims, Christian be inappropriate especially when it is ranked as hours of the formal adoption of the "New Kash- far flung areas of Mirpur, Kotli, Rajouri Missionary nuns and nurses at St Joseph's Hospi- mir", Maharaja Hari Singh significantly chose the best in its class and technology , with excel- tal,. According to Tariq Ali, the local cinema Gandhi Jayanti in 1944 to launch his historic plan and other parts of this area. Properties of became a "rape centre", with atrocities continuing lent onboard systems and avionics which puts it of diarchy "with a view to giving further effect to for several days. in the front and ahead of contemporary aircraft of my policy of associating my subjects - with the The defiance by the local people was best rep- administration of the State" Hindus/Sikhs, homes were looted and resented by Mohammad Maqbool Sherwani's its kind in the world. Union Defence Minister "Describing it as "really a step forward." M. A. extreme sacrifice in defence of Baramulla. He was Rajnath Singh achieved the 'feat' of becoming Beg on behalf of National Conference went to the crucified on the cross. It is a pity that a memorial extent of asserting "His Highness Command has burnt. Innocent people were mercilessly the first Defence Minister to fly in this indigenous- built in his honour has fallen on bad days. ly built light combat aircraft. It is definitely a come at a time when nobody would deny that any constitutional progress would not have been insist- killed and many were converted. Poonch Rebellion - role of an INA hero During moment of joy for all of us. ed upon and anybody invested with power to con- famous INA trial in Lal Qila after VWWII, people used to shout: If the aircraft would have been an imported fer constitutional reform, would easily have Raghvan goes on: "The most extraordinary por- The atrocities and killing of thousands of Hin- deferred them if he wished". Speaking on behalf of "Lal Qile se aaee awaz, Sahgal Dhillon Habib one or assembled in India with most of the parts tion of the story is that almost simultaneously with dus in Mirpur and indignities suffered by their Shah Nawaz, Charoon ki ho umar daraz." the Muslim Conference group in the Praja Sabha, the happenings at Srinagar, there was an uprising women folk doesn't find a place in most of the nar- imported from other countries , the pleasure (There is an echo from the Red Fort. Long Live Choudhary Hamid Ullah Khan was no less elo- at a place named Vichar Nag, some 5 or 6 miles ratives. Uprooted from the region in the midst of would have not been as much as in flying in an quent: "Our beloved Ruler by taking this definite away. It has been stated that untold atrocities were unprecedented violence this writer is a personal Sahgal, Dhillon, Habib and Shah Nawaz). Most indigenously built fighter air machine which the progressive step, of which any Indian State may committed there; men owning lakhs were reduced witness as a child to the gory happenings. Indians are familiar with Sehgal, Dhillon and Shah well feel proud, has given two representatives of Nawaz. But Habib is not part of our memory. Defence Minister must have specially felt when to indigence and women were subjected to the The militants had entered Mirpur --- the old city this House an opportunity of participating in his worst possible and the most indecent assaults. A is now drowned in the backwaters of the Mangla He was Col. Habib ur Rahman Khan alias Raja on board of this fighter aircraft. In fact, just like a administration, thereby graciously bestowing a military force was dispatched to the place, but by Dam --- on the morning of November 25, 1947 and Habib ur Rahman Khan from Bhimber a District bit of cuisine prepared with lot of skill and hard great honour to all the other members of the that time the havoc had been completed." set several parts of the city on fire, causing chaos of POK then a tehsil of Mirpur District. House." The late veteran journalist and public fig- work , when given to someone to see and Fallout of 1931 in Mirpur, Kotli and other and turmoil across the city. Large-scale rioting took It was Col. Habib ur Rahman Khan who led the ure, Om Prakash Saraf, has mentioned this in an areas.. place. Of the minority population, only about 2,500 revolt against Maharaja in Poonch and was award- explain how that tasted like, in the same way, the article in the Daily Excelsior. This communal frenzy then spread to the far Hindus or Sikhs could hurriedly escape to Jammu.. ed Sitara-e-Pakistan by Government of Pakistan Bitterness against the Maharaja was forgotten Defence Minister found the flying sortie in the flung areas of Mirpur, Kotli, Rajouri and other parts The others were captured and marched to Alibeg, besides many other awards and honours. It is dif- at a critical juncture with the greater good of the of this area. Properties of Hindus/Sikhs, homes where a gurdwara was converted into a prison Tejas quite 'smooth and comfortable' . When people and the state in mind. ficult to explain the transformation of a man who this aircraft in full battle combat would be sent for were looted and burnt. Innocent people were mer- camp, but the raiders killed 10,000 of the captives was a trusted lieutenant of Netaji. The July 13, 1931 events marked by the killing cilessly killed and many were converted to Islam. along the way and abducted 5,000 women.