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A Rebellion during First Kashmir War

Battle of Rawalakot

Part of the Kashmir conflict and Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948

Date	November 4–14 1947
Location	Azad Kashmir,Rawalakot
Result	Mujahideen victory State forces withdraw to Poonch Non-Muslim Civilians re-located to Poonch
Territorial changes	Rawalakot is liberated

Belligerents

Mujahideen

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir State Forces

India

Indian Air Force

Commanders and leaders

Hussain Khan
(Captain)
Sher Khan
(Captain)
Bostan Khan
(Subedar)

Amarnath Lakhanpal
(Major)
Parkash Chand
(Captain)

Strength

200 Home Guards and above

2000 State forces personal

Casualties and losses

260 Casualties including 150 Killed

400 killed,
Many wounded

The Battle of Rawalakot, was a battle fought by Captain Hussain Khan and his forces against the State of Jammu and Kashmir which took place in the city of Rawalakot and surrounding areas between November 4–14 during the First Kashmir war, which was initiated by Hussain Khan to fight for the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to the dominion of Pakistan.

Background

A fort called Rawalakot was built by the descendant of a famous ruler Sardar Mako Khan in Rawalakot and a court in the Rawalakot area was called Rahwala-kot was present According to locals and is believed that Rawalakot became famous because of a local ruler and the name was attributed to the forts in the locality.

In spring 1947 Sardar Ibrahim, the member of Legislative Assembly from Bagh–Sudhnoti, returned to Poonch after attending the Assembly session in March–April. By his own account, he was thoroughly convinced that there was a conspiracy between the State forces and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and, so, he advised the people of Poonch to organize themselves politically. As a result of his exhortations, he states, people "got courage, became defiant, and started organizing themselves exactly on military lines". On 15 June, he addressed a meeting in Rawalakot attended by 20,000 people, and gave a speech in "most 'seditious' terms". He told his audience that Pakistan, a Muslim state, was coming into being and the people of Jammu and Kashmir could not remain unaffected. After that day, he says, "a strange atmosphere took the place of the usually peaceful life in these parts". On 22 June, Chaudhary Hamidullah, the acting president of the Muslim Conference, visited Rawalakot and initiated secret plans to organize the ex-servicemen of the district for an eventual confrontation with the State Forces.

Hussain Khan, would gather Muslim ex-army personnel and volunteers from World war 2. However very few joined Captain Hussain.

Preparations § Prelude

Prelude

On August 22, over 2000 individuals in Rawalakot requested that the state be admitted to Pakistan. Nonetheless, the people retracted their demands after the state administration called the leaders of the demanders and told them to stop. When the people of Bagh rejected orders, the situation got critical, and the leaders were captured. Following an apology, the leaders were promptly released.

Pakistani groups coordinated the 1,000-man march to Poonch from Arja in order to have their demands addressed. The groups were separated into three and spent the night at nearby non-Muslim establishments. One party would stay in Arja, while the other two moved to Poonch and Hari Ghel. After being denied entry into Bagh on August 24, they spent the night near by. Some of the protestors had rifles, Balwan Singh therefore commanded a unit to reinforce the Bagh garrison. The previous groups of protestors would subsequently join the gathering in Bagh, bringing the total number of protestors to 2000.

Colonel Krishna Singh, the Officer Commanding Raghupratap described the critical situation to the Chief-of-Staff over the phone, as well as the need for another battalion, which was instantly met, and one party was stationed in Bagh and one in Rawalakot on August 24-26. They were attacked. By 500-600 men who emerged unexpectedly, all of the signalers and troops were seized. They were disarmed and led to the Mehl River, where they drowned. Two people survived the assault, including Jemadar Kharud Singh, who managed to release himself.

The news about the attack was received at Bagh. Captain Balwan Singh sent a reconnaissance party of 10 men which were halted by intense resistance offered and returned back to the garrison.

Mujahideen preparations

The state administration was fully informed of the shortcomings to prevent the worsening situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Head quarters of Captain Hussain Khan was setup by him in Miral-gala close to Bajonsa, and then organized a force. The force would face lack of weapons and ammunition.

Battle

On November 4, 1947, Subedar Bostan Khan led the initial attack on Rawalakot, which was repelled by state forces, resulting in 45 casualties and 23 deaths for the Mujahideen. A renewed attack was led by Captain Hussain Khan on November 6. The Mujahideen began bombarding the Rawalakot Garrison with relentless fire and the state force's outer defense was compromised. The Indian planes pounded the Mujahideen all day. On November 8th, Captain Hussain Khan led another significant attempt.

The Hajira column back at Rawalakot, the position had become impenetrable, but the garrison's ammunition supply was suffering greatly from the daily combat with the enemy while it was under control.