Baramulla 1947: The Improvised Stand That Bought India Time in Kashmir

• In October 1947, Dogra troops, policemen, and volunteers in Baramulla delayed a tribal invasion, buying crucial time for India.
• The defense of Baramulla was pivotal, allowing India to airlift troops into Srinagar on October 27 after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession.
• Pashtun tribesmen, backed by Pakistan, invaded Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to seize Srinagar and force accession to Pakistan.
• Baramulla suffered widespread looting, massacres, and destruction by the tribal lashkar, including atrocities at St Joseph’s Hospital.
• The improvised stand by Baramulla defenders, including figures like Maqbool Sherwani, was crucial in preventing the immediate fall of Srinagar.

Why It Matters: Baramulla defenders bought India crucial time to save Srinagar in 1947.