12 April 1948; When Rajouri was reclaimed by Indian Army; Story of Rajouri Massacre

'Rajouri Day' is celebrated every year on April 13 to commemorate the courage and valour of the Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district from rebels and Pakistani Army.

On 11-12 November 1947, when whole India was celebrating first Diwali after Independence , at the same time thousands of Hindus were being massacred in Rajouri city of J&K.

The partition of India and accession of J&K to India in October 1947 was followed by the First War between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani army along with the rebels and deserters from the western districts of the state, captured Rajouri on 7 November 1947. They started looting as soon as they entered the city of Rajouri. The massacre began from 7 November 1947 until 12 April 1948.

Thousands of people hid in the mountains and forests to save their lives. Rajouri was a predominantly a Hindu populated city, surrounded by Muslim populated villages. Till Sep'1947, Rajouri was a town with a population of 5,000. By early Nov, this number had swelled to over 40,000, with Hindu-Sikh refugees streaming in from the west.

Thousands of Hindus and Sikhs were martyred :-

On 11th Nov, When rest of India was celebrating Chhoti Diwali, Muslim marauders started slaughtering Hindus-Sikhs of Rajouri, first men and then elderly women. Thousands of women were raped, abducted and later sold in Pakistan. It is said that more than three thousand Hindus and Sikhs were murdered in one day.

The heroes of the Singh Sabha and the Rashtriya Swayam Sangh fought fiercely with their traditional weapons, but their weapons were not able to support them for a long time and most of the warriors died while battling the tribes.

12th Nov, on Diwali, the attackers got the city evacuated and gathered the remaining men at the 'Maidan' (at present an Air Field). Thousands were massacred with swords and axes that day.

More than 30 thousand Hindus and Sikhs were killed on the streets in Rajouri, one of the most horrific massacres in Indian history. Women jumped into the well to save their lives or died by consuming poison.

At that time, Harji Lal, the Tehsildar of Rajouri, fled to Reasi with twenty Gurkha rifle personnel stationed in the city as soon as the attack took place. In such a situation, Rajouri was left for months.

Recapture of Rajouri :-

The same trend continued till the night of 12 April 1948, and on the morning of 13 April, a new dawn came and when the Indian Army got Rajouri free from terror. When the Indian Army set out on a campaign to liberate it from Rajouri, the legs of the tribesmen could not last long.

"2nd Lieutenant Ram Raghoba Rane, hero of Rajouri victory":-

While retreating from Nowshera, the Pakistani army had planned conspiracies, but every plot failed in front of the valor and prudence of Second Lieutenant Ram Ragoba Rane of Dogra Regiment. During the advance, 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, Bombay Engineers, who was attached with the advancing troops, cleared the mine and roadblock. The Pakistani army had laid landmines along the way and cut down trees and threw them on the road. Despite being injured, Rana continued to clear the landmines and make way for the army.

It was due to him that the Indian Army entered Rajouri. For this, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for gallantry. There is an airstrip by his name.

Finally on 12 Apr'48 Rajouri was recaptured under the command of 2nd Lt. Raghoba Rane.

Thousands of sacrifices may have been lost by the country, but today the Army celebrates it as Shaurya Day and pays homage to the martyrs.