Page 147 - Leadership in the Indian Army

communication, and ordered the troops to return to Jhangar. This was
accomplished on 28 November. If Kalwant’s decision to rush to Kotli
without securing his open flank by taking Mirpur was surprising, his

decision to fall back to Jhangar immediately after capturing Kotli was even
more so. In the event, Mirpur was lost. And thereby hangs a tale. The wife
of one of the Maharaja’s ADCs—she was also reportedly one of his many
mistresses—lived in Kotli. It was rumoured that a large treasure belonging
to the State was kept in Kotli. Kalwant Singh’s haste to relieve Kotli was
probably due to these two factors rather than for tactical reasons. And
though the lady and the treasure might well have been saved, the lives of

several hundred men and the honour of several thousand women, were lost.
Of course, Kalwant Singh blamed the delay in capturing Kotli for the
misfortune which befell Mirpur, saying that a more energetic commander
than Paranjpe would have succeeded in saving both.
After falling back from Kotli, 50 Para Brigade occupied the townships of
Jhangar and Naushera: 1 Para Punjab was asked to hold Jhangar, while the

Brigade HQ and the second battalion were at Naushera. Soon after
returning to Naushera, Brigadier Paranjpe was hospitalised and had to be
replaced. He had been keeping indifferent health for some time due to an
injury he had sustained while in Gurdaspur. Brigadier Mohammed Usman,
who was then commanding 77 Para Brigade, was transferred to relieve
Paranjpe as Commander 50 Para Brigade.
Though 50 Para Brigade was holding Naushera, the enemy was occupying

several positions around it, particularly in the north. Usman realised the
inherent danger of enemy presence in the close vicinity of Naushera, and
made several attempts to remove them and clear the road towards Chingas.
But the troops available to him were inadequate for the task, and he did not
succeed. The situation in Jhangar was also causing concern. Besides 1 Para
Punjab, which had just 450 men, the garrison comprised a troop of 7

Cavalry and a platoon of Mahar medium machine-gunners. There were also
some personnel from Signals and the Field Ambulance.
The enemy could advance to Jhangar from Kotli as well as Mirpur, and 50
Para Brigade had not only to cover both these approaches, but also the road
to Naushera. A line of hills ran along the route from Kotli to Jhangar and
continued to Naushera. The road towards Mirpur was dominated by the Pir
Matalsi ridge, and its occupation was essential for the defence of Jhangar.

Lieutenant Colonel G.I.S. Kullar, who was commanding 1 Para Punjab, had