Page 143 - Leadership in the Indian Army

Battalion of the Madras Regiment; while 77 Para Brigade had 1 Para
Battalion of 2 Punjab Regiment, 3 Para Battalion of the Mahratta Light
Infantry, and 3 Para Battalion of the Rajput Regiment. These units were

spread out all over the country, and it was a colossal job to bring them
together. They belonged to some of the oldest regiments of the Indian
Army, and continued to wear their regimental insignia and embellishments.
However, to distinguish themselves as paratroopers, they began wearing
maroon berets or turbans, and the coveted ‘wings’ on the right arm.
In February 1947, the British government announced that India would
become independent by June 1948. The announcement was followed by

large-scale communal violence in the Punjab and NWFP. Since the riots
could not be controlled by the civil administration, the army had to be
called in, and 2nd Airborne Division played a major part in quelling the
disturbances. Usman had his hands full, rushing troops to areas where the
situation had become critical—to Multan, Jacobabad, Lahore, Ambala,
Rawalpindi and several places in Punjab. The operation became one of the

biggest air transported deployments of troops in India after World War II.
Para units carried out their assigned tasks in an exemplary manner, and their
conduct was appreciated by political leaders like Nehru, who toured the
affected areas to reassure the people. Edwina Mountbatten, the Vicereine,
also visited the refugee camps and hospitals, and praised the work done by
the troops. Gradually, the situation improved and the riots ceased. However,
the scale and ferocity of the violence convinced Mountbatten that the

communal divide was too deep-rooted to remain dormant for long, and he
took the momentous decision to advance the date for the transfer of power
to 15 August 1947. He also persuaded the Indian National Congress to
accept partition of the country.
As part of the partition settlement, 2nd Airborne Division was also
divided. The divisional HQ and 50 and 77 Para Brigades were allotted to

India, while 14 Para Brigade went to Pakistan. The para battalions did not
go with their respective brigade HQ, but with their parent regiments. Thus,
para battalions of the 1st and 15th Punjab, the Baluch and the Frontier
Force regiments went to Pakistan, while the rest came to India. Along with
the units, all officers, VCOs and other ranks were also given the option to
choose between the Indian and Pakistani Army. Usman was then in England
and had been posted as Commander 77 Parachute Brigade, which had been

moved from Quetta to Multan for internal security duties. Since he was a