Sack of Baramulla

Part of Indo-Pakistani War of 1947

Pashtun tribesmen in Kashmir, 1947

Location| Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir
Date| October 1947
Target| Hindus, Sikhs

Attack type

| Massacre, looting, destruction
Deaths| 14,000 civilians
Perpetrator| Tribal militias, Pakistan Army

* v
* t
* e

Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948

Gilgit-Baltistan Sector

* Gilgit
* Tsari
* Skardu
* Thorgo
* Leh
* Eraze
* Duck and Bison

Kashmir Sector

* Poonch Rebellion
* Rawalakot
* Tribal invasion
* Muzaffarabad
* Baramulla
* Bagdam
* Pandu
* Poonch
* Shalateng
* Chunj
* Kotli
* Bhimber

Agreements-Resolution

* Karachi Agreement
* UNSC Resolutions (47
* 80)
* Acession

The Sack of Baramulla was an event that took place during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. In October 1947, tribal militias and Pakistan Army forces attacked the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Baramulla, a town in the region, witnessed a brutal massacre in the early stages of the war.

## Background

[edit]

Baramulla was among the worst-affected areas during the invasion. Various sources provide different figures, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging from hundreds to thousands. Some accounts state that approximately 14,000 civilians were killed.[1][2]

## Violence against Kashmiri Hindus

[edit]

The Kashmiri Hindu and Sikh communities faced immense violence during the sack. Families reportedly committed mass suicide to escape the brutality, jumping from rooftops or into the Jhelum River. On 26 October 1947, approximately 11,000 residents of Baramulla were massacred. The Mohra power station, supplying electricity to Srinagar, was also destroyed.[3]

## Sheikh Abdullah's Statement

[edit]

Sheikh Abdullah, leader of the National Conference and the first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, described the invasion at the UN Security Council on 5 February 1948:

* "The raiders came to our land, massacred thousands of people—mostly Hindus and Sikhs—abducted thousands of girls, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims alike, looted our property, and almost reached the gates of our summer capital, Srinagar."*

Estimates suggest that between 35,000 to 40,000 residents of Jammu and Kashmir were killed during the tribal invasion.[4]

## Destruction of Religious Institutions

[edit]

The Franciscan Missionary convent and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Baramulla were also attacked. María Teresalina Sánchez, a Spanish nun, was murdered while defending the convent. She was shot multiple times and dragged away by the militants.[5][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pakistani invasion of Kashmir in 1947: Baramulla Massacre when thousands were slaughtered by the Pakistani military".
2. ^ "J & K Revisited". The CSF. 2012-11-08.
3. ^ Palit, D. K. (1972). Jammu and Kashmir Arms: History of the J & K Rifles. Palit & Dutt. p. 182.
4. ^ Gulati, M. N. (2000). Military Plight of Pakistan: Indo-Pak War, 1947-48. Manas Publications.
5. ^ "Kashmir mission was a martyr's home". The Media Project. 2011-01-29.
6. ^ Whitehead, Andrew (2021). ""For the Conversion of Kashmir": the massacre at St. Joseph's mission hospital in Baramulla". Religion and Politics in Jammu and Kashmir. Routledge India.

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template