Kotli town the then Tehsil Headquarter in Mirpur District with a population of 4,000 in 1947, had swelled many folds because of flow of Hindus and Sikhs from surrounding villages in the face of armed invasion by Pakistani raiders. Kotli is situated at a distance of about 180 km from Jammu towards its north western end, and is a beautiful hill settlement on the bank of Daryaay (river) Poonch on the Mirpur-Poonch road on one side and Jammu-Poonch road on the other side both via Jhanger. The tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 actively supported by the Pakistan Army brought in its wake, horrifying stories of mass plunder, vandalism and rape, thousands of men women and children were mercilessly butchered in the name of Jihad by the Muslim fundamentalists which have no parallel. The stories connected with bravery and sacrifice by civil population have gone unnoticed. On this unfortunate day November 27th, 1947, when Kotli town was got vacated by the Indian Armed Forces, after they captured it, bring to my mind some rare feats of bravery and sacrifice by the people of Kotli.
28th October 1947: In a rare feat of courage and bravery the youths of Kotli in face of heavy fire by the enemy brought home the ammunition boxes which were dropped in the enemy’s territory by the Indian aircraft out of confusion. About twelve people including Ved Parkash Chadha laid down their lives for the honors of the mother land. This sacrifice, however remained unnoticed by the government though it was no less than what Brig. Rajinder Singh and others did, who were decorated by the 2nd November 1947: One of the enemy’s picket situated just at the opposite side of the road was firing continuously and it was almost certain that the enemy will enter the town. But the bravery of Dharam Vir Khanna who entered the picket and blew it with hand grenade saved the town. During this operation Dharma Vir Khanna sacrificed his life and become a martyr.
15th November 1947: The enemy entered the town in full strength. Many houses were torched. There was hand-to- hand fight in which the enemy suffered heavy causalities and forced to retreat when came face-to-face with Captain Ram Parkash shouting Bagoo Capt. Ram Parkash aa Gaya Ha. About ninety people including women and children were burnt alive in the fire. Many laid down their lives while fighting enemy to defend the town.
27th November 1947: Though saved from the enemy at the time, this town (Kotli) of the heroes was abandoned by the Indian Army voluntarily much against the wishes of the people who were prepared to defend it till last drop of their blood. The tragedy about happenings in the Jammu area is heightened by the fact that most of this area fell in the enemy’s hand and massacres took place. Thereafter the state had acceded to India and the Indian troops had taken charge of the defence of the State. Kashmir Valley having been cleared of the enemy by 10th November Indian troops could have conveniently turned their attention to this strategic area also and they could have at least relieved the beleaguered towns of Rajouri and Mirpur and prevented the worst massacre of Indian history taking place. That they could not do so was not the fault of Army Commanders. As per the historians, the men responsible for these massacres were Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah. Nehru would not allow anybody else in India to advise him in his handling of the Kashmir situation.
He was solely guided by Sheikh Abdullah who did not allow the army to advance and recapture this area since he had no interest in any other part of the State except the Kashmir Valley because it would have challenged his leadership. The most unfortunate other part of the story is that these unfortunate people (refugees/displaced) of this area (PoK) are till date neither rehabilitated nor their other genuine demands met by the government.
When Memorial in the memories of army and police personnel have been built, it is equally important and necessary that a huge memorial is also built in the memory of thousands of innocent men, women and children who either scarified their lives to save the honour of our (Mother) land or those who performed “Johar” by consuming poison or killing themselves in the wells to protect their honour. Through these lines a request is again made to the Governor and Chief Minister to pay tributes to these souls as is being done for those who scarified their lives in Karbala and elsewhere.
Let everyone also join me bowing their heads in the memories of these martyrs who laid down their lives for us to live respectfully.
YUV RAJ GUPTA