Thread by @VikramadityaSum

Today is the #BlackDay for #JammuandKashmir as on this day hordes of Tribal men lead by Pakistan Army invaded Jammu & Kashmir in 1947. Many lives were lost, many properties were looted and many women & girls were raped.
Let me tell you a personal story about that #ordeal.

My mother belongs to the Narania नरैनिया Rajput family. Her Grandfather was Lt. Col. Vakil Singh, 4 JAK Rifles (Fateh Shibji). He was the son of Raja Kohar Singh, Jagirdar of Barla (बारला), of Tehsil Palandri (now PoJK). Their ancestors were made Jagirdars by MR Gulab Singh ji.

Barla is a village which is a part of Tehsil Palandri, District Sudhanoti, Pakistan occupied J&K now. It was ruled from Baral Fort (still standing in ruins) by Raja Kohar Singh in the name of MR Hari Singh during 1947. Majority population of Sudhanoti was of Muslim Sudhan Tribe.

Ancestors of Raja Kohar Singh got Jagir of Barla as a challenge. It was not easy in those times (not even today) to subdue Muslim tribes of these frontier regions. MR Sahab threw a bare sword in the Durbar calling for anyone who will pick it up and go to Barla.

Barla was around 10 km from the border of Punjab of British India. The border was highly porous. The situation was very tense since the announcement of Independence and the creation of Pakistan. Punjabi Muslim leaders were pouring in the area to agitate local people.

Lt Col Vakil Singh Ji was commissioned in the State forces and was posted south of Muzzafrabad at that time. His wife and children were in Srinagar but the rest of the family was in Barla. Raja Kohar Singh took his family and helpers into the fort with whatever arms & ammo ...

they had at the time. Around 15 Oct, refugees started coming in from Punjab and they informed local people about the amassing of troops and tribesmen across the border. Kohar Singh could not leave as they received verbal orders from MR Sahab to hold the fort via a Runner.

Few members of the family requested Kohar Singh Ji for the permission to leave for Jammu. It included his 3 sons, their wives and children. Majority of the family stayed back which included his brothers, his youngest son and their families.

They started to prepare to protect their property and Jagir. Fort was not big enough 2 accommodate everyone so it was very much congested. Patrolling was started and scouts were sent towards the border. Even local Muslims started threatening the family and its loyalists.

Kohar Singh Ji's biggest concern was the large no. women of the family. On the night of 21/22 Oct 1947 the Tribesmen and Pak Army entered J&K. Traitors informed the attackers about the Fort and its occupants. Fort was encircled and surrender was ordered.

But everyone knew what will be the aftermath of surrender. So it was not the option. The mood of the fort was conveyed to the invaders and fire was opened. The Ammunition was not enough for a long battle. It was to be lasted only for a few hours.

As the end was close Kohar Singh Ji ordered every woman to get ready for the sacrifice to save their respect. He entered a darkroom in the dungeons and ordered his youngest son to send the women to that room one by one.

On the top of the Fort men were fighting the invaders and inside their mothers, wives & daughters were ready for the sacrifice. Kohar Singh Ji himself beheaded the women. When a wife of his younger brother entered the room, she witnessed the situation inside,

she saw that the floor of the room is filled with blood up to 1 or 2 inches and Kohar Singh Ji's sword and the whole body is soaked up in the blood. She ran away pushing the man guarding the door and jumped over the walls.

She was captured by one of the local Sudhans and was later converted and married off. It was she who wrote the letters to the family of Lt. Col. Vakil Singh Ji and told the tale. All the rest of the people were killed. A total number of 53. We can only imagine the rest.

Vakil Singh Ji had bought the lands in Talab Tillo near Jammu before 1947 and constructed the house in 1953. He won Sena Medal for his valour and leadership as CO of 4th Bn (Fateh Shibji) J&K Army at Hussainiwala, District Ferozpur, Punjab in 1956.

After this whole J&K Army was commissioned into the Indian Army along with its Officers as Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He had 4 sons and 2 daughters, of which 1 son along with daughters still lives and have a further family. And they have lots and lots of stories and tales.

Vakil Singh Ji as an young Letiunent.

As a Major.

His medals at the Officer's Mess of 4th Jammu & Kashmir Rifles.

*Sorry, the rank is of Captain.