Operation Polo

The Principality of Hyderabad was founded on the Deccan Plateau in southern India in 1724 by Kamar-ud-Din Khan during the collapse of the Mughal Empire . As was the case in the northern Indian principalities, the Nizam was a Muslim , while the majority of the population of the principality was Hindu . In 1798, Hyderabad became the first Indian principality to fall under the British protectorate under the policy of subsidiary treaties introduced by Arthur Wellesley .

According to the 1941 census, 16.34 million people lived in Hyderabad, over 85% of whom were Hindus, and about 12% were Muslims; the population spoke many languages ​​- Telugu (48.2%), Marathi (26.4%), Kannada (12.3%) and Urdu (10.3%). Despite the prevailing share among the population, the Hindus were poorly represented in the administration, police and army: out of 1765 officers of the state army, 1268 were Muslims, 421 were Hindus, and the remaining 121 were Christians , Parsis and Sikhs ; Among the officials who received a salary of 600-1,200 rupees a month, 59 were Muslims, 5 were Hindus and 38 were representatives of other religions. Nizam and his associates, who were mostly Muslims, owned 40% of all land in the country ^[4] .

When the British finally left India in 1947 , they provided the rulers under their auspices with a choice of states: join India, join Pakistan or remain independent.

At that time, Hyderabad was the largest and most powerful of the Indian principalities. He had his own army, his own airline, his own railway system, and his GNP was superior to the Belgian . Therefore, the lower classes of Hyderabad, being the richest man in the world, decided that it was better for his country to get complete independence. However, representatives of India were concerned about the possibility of the emergence in the center of their country of an independent - and potentially hostile - Muslim state, and decided to annex Hyderabad in the same way as was done with the other 565 principalities.

Diplomatic negotiations

At first, the lower ranks of Hyderabad sent the UK a request for recognition of Hyderabad as an independent constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth of Nations , but the request was rejected.

When the Indian Minister of the Interior, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, demanded that the ruler of Hyderabad sign an accession agreement, this demand was rejected, and on August 15, 1947, the independence of Hyderabad was proclaimed on the same day as the independence of India. Fearing that an independent state would arise in the heart of India, Sardar turned to the Governor General of India, Mountbatten , who advised him to try to resolve the issue without using force.

In accordance with this council, the Indian government invited Hyderabad to sign an agreement guaranteeing the status quo; unlike other principalities, Hyderabad did not require guarantees of subsequent accession to the Indian Union - only a guarantee of non-membership of Pakistan was required. From India, negotiations were led by Ambassador K. M. Munshi, from Hyderabad, by Prime Minister Laik Ali and English politician Walter Moncton. Lord Mountbatten, who chaired the negotiations, proposed several options for resolving the problem, but they were all rejected by Hyderabad. Hyderabad officials accused India of building armed barricades on the roads leading to the principality and attempting to isolate the country economically. The Indians in response accused Hyderabad of importing weapons from Pakistan: Hyderabad handed over 200 million rupees to Pakistan and organized a bombing squadron there.

Despite the fact that the final plan was adopted and signed by the Indian side, it was rejected by the Nizam of Hyderabad, which demanded either full independence or membership in the British Commonwealth. Nizam also made unsuccessful attempts to bring US President G. Truman to arbitration and organize UN intervention.

Hyderabad Riots

During the negotiations between India and Hyderabad, most of the subcontinent was plunged into chaos, accompanying the division of territory between India and Pakistan. Fearing a Hindu rebellion in his own country, the lower classes allowed his adviser Kassim Razvi, who led the radical party Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), to create armed Muslim volunteer groups called "razakars." The Razakars — whose strength eventually reached 200,000 — were trying to strengthen Muslim dominance in Hyderabad and on the Deccan Plateau , while the vast majority of Hindus favored joining the Indian Union.

As the Razakar’s number and armament grew, clashes broke out between them and the Hindus. As a result, the riots affected about 150 villages (of which 70 were in India, outside the borders of Hyderabad). In Telengan, a large group of peasants, led by Swami Ramanand Teerth, led by the Communist Party of India, rebelled against the local Muslim landowner and embarked on a direct confrontation with the razakars. In parallel, political parties - such as the Hyderabad National Congress - were involved in non-violent forms of protest against the rule of Nizam.

December 4, 1947 Narayan Rao Pavar - a member of the Hindu nationalist organization "Arya-Samaj" - made an unsuccessful attempt on Nizam ^[5] .

Hyderabad Military Preparations

Nizam of Hyderabad had a large army with extensive experience serving as mercenaries. It included three tank regiments, a cavalry regiment, 11 infantry battalions and artillery. She was supported by irregular units, consisting of cavalry and infantry, as well as garrison units - with a total number of 22 thousand people. The army was commanded by Major General El Edroos, an Arab by nationality ^[6] . 55% of the Hyderabad army was composed of Muslims.

In addition to the army, there was a Muslim militia (“razakars”) led by Kassim Razvi. For a quarter she was armed with modern firearms, the remainder - with the hopelessly outdated old muzzle-loading firearms and cold steel ^[6] .

Allegedly, the Nizam received armed assistance from Pakistan and from the Portuguese administration in Goa . In addition, arms were delivered by air by Australian arms dealer Sydney Cotton.

Termination of negotiations

When the Indian government received information that Hyderabad is arming itself and intends to make an alliance with Pakistan in any future war with India, Wallabhai Patel compared independent Hyderabad with an ulcer in the heart of India that must be removed by surgery. In response, Hyderabad’s Prime Minister Laik Ali said: “India believes that if Pakistan attacks it, Hyderabad will stab it in the back. I’m not sure we won’t do that. ” Then Sardar Patel said: “If you threaten us with violence, then swords will meet with swords” ^[7] .

The battle in Kodar

On September 6, an Indian police post near the village of Chillakallu underwent heavy shelling by the Razakars. The Indian army command sent to help the tank and infantry units (in which the Gurkhs served), dropping the razakars to Kodar, in the territory of Hyderabad. Here the Indians encountered Hyderabad armored parts. In a short battle, the Indian units destroyed the Hyderabad armored car and forced the Kodar garrison to surrender.

India's military preparations

Having received from the government the task of capturing and annexing Hyderabad, the Indian army began to implement Goddard’s plan (developed by Lieutenant General E. N. Goddard, Commander of the Southern Command). The plan provided for two main attacks: from the east, from Vijayavada , and from the west, from Solapur , while small units were supposed to attack the Hyderabad army along the entire length of the border. The general command of the operation was entrusted to Lieutenant General Rajendrasinghji. The attack from Solapur was led by Major General Chaudhari, the attack from Vijayawada was led by Major General Rudra. The start date of the operation was chosen on September 13, 1948 - the second day after the death of Jinnah , the founder of the Pakistan state .

Day 1, September 13

The first clash took place in the fortified area of ​​the city of Naldurg, on the Solapur - Secunderabad highway, between the units of the 1st Hyderabad Infantry Regiment guarding the area and the attacking forces of the 7th Brigade of the Indian Army. Due to the suddenness and speed, the 7th brigade managed to take an intact strategically important bridge across the Bori River, after which the positions of the Hyderabad troops in Naldurg were attacked by the 2nd Sikh infantry battalion. Having ensured the safety of the bridge and the road, at 9:00 a.m. The convoy of the 1st Armored Brigade moved towards the settlement of Dzhalkot, located 8 km from Naldurg, paving the way for the shock group under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ram Singh. This armored column by 15 h. 15 min. it advanced 61 km inland of Hyderabad and reached the settlement of Umarji, where it quickly overcame the resistance of the "razakar" detachment. At the same time, the second column, consisting of the squadron of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, the 18th Cavalry Regiment of King Edward, the detachment of the 9th Field Regiment, the 10th Engineering Regiment, the 2nd Punjab Regiment, the 1st Regiment of the Gurkha Riflemen, The 1st Mevar Infantry Regiment and auxiliary units advanced in the direction of the city of Tuljapur, 34 km northwest of Naldurg. She reached Tuljapur at dawn, where she encountered resistance from units of the 1st Hyderabad Infantry Regiment and a 200-man squad of “razakars,” which was crushed during a 2-hour battle. Further progress towards the locality of Lohara was stopped due to the spill of the river. On the first day of military operations in the western direction, Hyderabad armed units suffered serious losses and lost control of vast territories. Among the captured Indian soldiers was a British mercenary whose task was to undermine the bridge near Naldurg.

In the eastern direction, the strike force under the command of Lieutenant General A. A. Rudra encountered fierce resistance from the two armored divisions “Humber” and “Steghound,” but managed to reach the settlement of Kodar by 8.30 am, and by noon - the settlement Mungala.

Later, the 1st Mysore regiment entered the city of Hospet, where it recaptured the sugar factory from the “razakar” and Pashtun groups, and the 5th regiment of the Gurkha riflemen in the city of Tungabhadra recaptured the vital bridge from the units of the Hyderabad army.

2nd day, September 14th

The forces camped near Umarji advanced to the village of Rajasur 48 km to the east. Since aerial reconnaissance revealed the presence of well-fortified areas in this direction, they were attacked by a Tempest Hawker squadron. These air strikes made it possible to effectively clear the route, and the ground units of the Indian army reached Rajasur by noon.

The advance of the eastern attacking group was slowed down by an anti-tank ditch, and then, 6 km from Suryapet, the 1st Uhlan and 5th Infantry Regiments of the Indian Army came under heavy fire from the enemy’s elevated positions. These positions were recaptured by the 5th regiment of Gurkha shooters - veterans of the Burmese campaign , while the Hyderabad units suffered heavy losses.

At the same time, the 11th regiment of the Gurkha riflemen and the squadron of the 8th cavalry regiment attacked Osmanabad and occupied the city after heavy street battles with "razakar" detachments, which showed fierce resistance ^[8] .

A group of forces under the command of Major General of the Indian Army D. S. Brara was tasked to occupy the city of Aurangabad . The city was attacked by six columns of infantry and cavalry, and therefore in the afternoon, representatives of the city's civil administration announced their surrender.

Later, in the city of Jalna , the 3rd Sikh and 2nd Jodhpur infantry regiments, reinforced with tanks of the 18th cavalry regiment, encountered stubborn resistance from the Hyderabad forces.

Day 3, September 15

Leaving the 11th regiment of Gurkha riflemen to hold Jalna , Indian troops advanced to the city of Latur , and then to Mominabad, where they encountered the 3rd regiment of Golkond Lancers, which had symbolic resistance before the surrender.

In the city of Surriapet, the Hyderabad defense was neutralized by air strikes, although separate groups of “razakars” participated in skirmishes with the fighters of the 5th Gurkha regiment, who occupied the city. The retreating Hyderabad formations destroyed the bridge over the Musi River, but could not organize barrage fire, as a result of which the bridge was quickly restored. Another clash occurred in the village of Narkatpalli, where a squad of "razakars" was destroyed.

4th day, September 16th

The strike group under the command of Lt. Col. Ram Singh moved towards the city of Zahirabad at dawn, but its progress was slowed down by a minefield, which had to be cleared. At the intersection of the road to Bidar with the Solapur - Hyderabad highway, Indian forces encountered an ambush. Nevertheless, leaving a number of units to destroy the ambush, most of the group continued to move and towards the evening reached the line 15 km from Zahirabad, despite the sporadic resistance offered by the enemy along the line. The main resistance was provided by detachments of "razakars" who organized ambushes in urban areas. The Razakars were able to take advantage of the terrain, which required the use of 75 mm guns by Indian troops.

Day 5, September 17

On the night of September 17, the Indian army entered Bidar. At the same time, a unit led by the 1st Armored Regiment occupied the city of Chital, about 60 km from the capital, and the other convoy, the city of Hingoli. By the morning of the 5th day of hostilities, it became clear that the Hyderabad army and the Razakar units were routed in all directions, suffering extremely heavy losses. At 5 pm on September 17, the Nizami announced a ceasefire, which put an end to hostilities ^[8] .

On September 16, the Nizam of Hyderabad dismissed the entire government, led by Laik Ali. On September 17, without undue ceremony, the Nizam turned to the Indian forces in English on the radio with a message about surrender. At 16 hours, Major General Chaudhuri accepted the surrender from Major General El Edroos.

Indian casualties during Operation Polo totaled 32 people killed and 97 wounded. Hyderabad casualties were many times greater: 1,863 people were killed, 122 wounded and 3,558 captured. During the unrest that occurred in the weeks following the surrender of the week, about 50 thousand civilians died in Hyderabad. Nizam received the ceremonial post " Rajpramukh ", but was deprived of real power. Hyderabad became part of India as the state of Hyderabad , and in the course of the territorial reforms of 1956 , carried out according to the linguistic principle, was disbanded; significant parts of its territory became part of neighboring states. Many officials and members of the princely family fled to Pakistan.