ACCESSION TO INDIA AND FLY IN OF THE ARMY

Accession to India

1.         By the latter half of Oct 1947 the Govt of India was in close touch with the situation in Kashmir. The Maharaja’s government sought India’s help in controlling it. Direct assistance of the Indian Army was ruled out till J&K acceded to India.

2.         On 22 Oct 1947, the Maharaja specifically requested for Indian troops to be sent to Kashmir to rescue it from the invaders. The following problems were visualised in fulfilling this requirement :  

(a)       No plans were  made for induction of troops into Kashmir. Srinagar was more than 480 km from the nearest Indian border.

(b)       Indian troops were committed in refugee operations and  internal security duties.

(c)        With time at a premium, air transport was the only feasible means of transporting troops. Srinagar landing ground was not maintained and fell short of the required standards for landing fully loaded transport aircrafts.

(d)       There were no depots, ancillary services or lines of communication existing there.

3.         The Secretary, Ministry of States, Govt of India, Mr VP Menon flew to Jammu on 26 Oct and returned with the formal Instrument of Accession signed by the Maharaja, after which the state became an integral part of the Indian Dominion. Hence Pakistan should have stopped the invasion of J&K, which it did not.

Induction of Indian troops

4.         Troops had to be mustered and prepared to be sent to Srinagar urgently. The choice fell on 1 Sikh, stationed nearby at Gurgaon, commanded by Lt Col DR Rai.

5.         The tasks allotted to 1 Sikh were :-

(a)       Hold Srinagar airfield and civil aviation wireless station at all costs.

(b)       Ensure immunity of Srinagar air field from enemy action, thereby

facilitating further landings.

(c)        Having achieved this, take measures to push back the raiders from

Srinagar.

(d)       Assist local govt to maintain law  and order  in Srinagar.

Difficulties Faced by Own Forces

6.         The difficulties experienced by the Indian Army in the initial stages of launching operations in Kashmir in October 1947 were as follows : -

            (a)       Lack of intelligence on enemy strength and deployment.

            (b)       Non existence of secure land communications.

            (c)        Non availability of maps of the area.

(d)       Pre-occupation with internal security operations in Punjab and other parts of the country.

(e)       Preoccupation with the reorganisation of the Army into Indian and Pakistan Army.

7.         The problems faced in the mustering of units for induction into Jammu and Kashmir in October 1947 were as under : -

(a)       Widespread deployment of units on internal security duties in northern India.

(b)       Units were split into platoon and company sized picquets.

(c)        The dispersed picquets lacked communications and thus it was time consuming to recall them.