Our Correspondent

Rajouri, April 12

People of Rajouri today paid homage to martyrs of 1947, killed fighting Pakistan intruders who had laid siege to the city from November 1947 to April 1948.The Pathans and Pakistan army and had captured many areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts.More than 20,000 people of the minority community, including women and children, had sacrificed their lives between November 1947 and April 13, 1948, while fighting the marauders to save their motherland.Residents of old Rajouri city every year organise a function at Balidan Bhavan to pay homage to the martyrs.“The survivors came out of their hiding places only when the Indian Army entered the town on April 13, 1948,” said Krishan Lal, an eyewitness of the 1947 massacre.Rajouri was 28 miles from the 19 Noushera Brigade Headquarters and the road was badly damaged. The enemy had planted mines under culverts to stop the movement of the Army.To chalk out a strategy for launching offensives, Lt Col Zorawar flew over the area along with a senior Engineering Officer who, according to Army records, had said: “Anyone who is thinking of advancing with tanks to Rajouri is in my opinion taking a great risk.”On April 13, 1948, at 10.30 am, the Indian Army had entered Rajouri town and liberated it from the clutches of Pakistanis.