Page 144 - Leadership in the Indian Army

senior Muslim officer, it was expected that he would opt for Pakistan. But
he surprised everyone by opting for India. A large number of officers from
the Baluch Regiment, to which he belonged, questioned his decision and

asked him to reconsider on the grounds of regimental loyalty. Both Mohd
Ali Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan tried to make him change his mind,
promising him quick promotions, but Usman stood firm. He returned to his
homeland and moved with 77 Parachute Brigade to Amritsar.
After Partition, HQ 2nd Airborne Division had moved to Dehradun,
where it was placed in suspended animation. The two para brigades were
placed under a joint Boundary Force commanded by Major General T.W.

Rees, and employed for the evacuation of refugees. After the Boundary
Force was wound up on 1 September 1947, responsibility for the security of
refugees was taken over by the respective governments of the two
countries. Major General K.S. Thimayya who, had been an adviser to Rees
as a brigadier, was promoted and appointed GOC 4 Indian Division. As the
force commander, he became responsible for the evacuation of refugees, in

place of Rees. At that time 50 Para Brigade was in Gurdaspur under the
command of Brigadier Y.S. Paranjpe, while 77 Para Brigade, under Usman,
was in Amritsar, which was directly on the route taken by the refugees
during their mass exodus in both directions. Though a Muslim, Usman was
free of religious prejudice, and with his impartiality, fairness and secular
outlook, set a fine example for the troops under his command. In those
days, communal passions rose to unprecedented heights, and even seasoned

soldiers sometimes found it difficult to avoid falling prey to the hysteria.
Not very far from Amritsar, there had been an incident involving 3 Para
Baluch, which fired 3-inch mortars on a refugee camp of Hindus and Sikhs.
October 1947 saw the start of the troubles in Kashmir. The 4th Battalion,
Jammu and Kashmir Infantry, was located at Muzaffarabad. It had two
companies of Muslims and two of Dogras. On 22 October the Muslims fell

on the Dogras and murdered them, opening the way for raiders from
Pakistan to enter Kashmir. By 26 October, the tribesmen had reached the
outskirts of Srinagar, and on the next day, Indian troops were flown into
Kashmir. The first battalion to be flown to Srinagar on 27 October was 1
Sikh, followed by 1 Para Kumaon (now 3 Para) on 29 October. At the same
time, 50 Para Brigade, which was in Gurdaspur, was ordered to move to
Jammu. The brigade had only two battalions, 1 Para Punjab (now 1 Para)

and 3 Para Rajput. Both units had recently shed their Muslim companies