Operation Eraze - Revision history

WilmerLassetter: basic fixed details per sources also and updated info for clarity

2026-01-19T03:27:20Z

basic fixed details per sources also and updated info for clarity

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 {{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}
-[[Image:J&K07low.jpg|thumb|300px|Operation Eraze]]'''Operation Eraze''' is the codename of the assault and '''capture of [[Gurais]]''' in northern [[Kashmir]] by the [[Indian Army]]  during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].
 ==History==
 [[Gurais]] is an important communication centre where the route from [[Srinagar]] comes north to the [[Kishanganga/Neelum River|Kishenganga river]], crosses it in the vicinity of Gurais and Dawar and then proceeds to [[Gilgit]] via the [[Burzil pass]] and the [[Astore Valley|Astor valley]]. Gurais is also connected to [[Muzaffarabad]] by a track along the river valley and by cross-country tracks south to [[Sonamarg]] and east to [[Dras]].<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947">{{cite book |title=History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947–1948 |last1=Prasad|first1=S.N.|last2=Dharm Pal |year=1987 |publisher=History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (Printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited) |location=New Delhi |pages=418 }}</ref>{{rp|308}}
-The fall of Muzaffarabad led to the advancing of tribal lashkars to Gurais along the Kishenganga valley. Tribal lashkars pushed back by the operations of 161 Infantry Brigade in the winter of 1947 retreated to Gurais over the Rajdhani pass when the snows sealed the pass for the winter. Pakistani forces comprising regular army troops from the [[Gilgit Scouts]] and deserters from the princely State Forces reinforced the lashkars. The Pakistanis were poised to attack Tragbal just north of [[Bandipore]] and enter the Kashmir valley as soon as the snows melted.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|309–310}}
+[[Battle of Muzaffarabad|The fall of Muzaffarabad]] led to the advancing of tribal lashkars to Gurais along the Kishenganga valley. Tribal lashkars pushed back by the operations of 161 Infantry Brigade in the winter of 1947 retreated to Gurais over the Rajdhani pass when the snows sealed the pass for the winter. Pakistani forces comprising regular army troops from the [[Gilgit Scouts]] and deserters from the princely State Forces reinforced the lashkars. The Pakistanis were poised to attack Tragbal just north of [[Bandipore]] and enter the Kashmir valley as soon as the snows melted.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|309–310}}
 The Indian Army responded by sending 2nd Battalion, [[Bihar Regiment]] to advance on 15 April 1948 to contact the enemy along the pilgrim route, i.e. the Bandipore - Kanzalwan - Gurais axis. The battalion captured Tragbal and pushed the raiders back to the Rajdhani pass. In May 1948, the battalion was rotated and replaced by the 1st Battalion, [[The Grenadiers|Indian Grenadiers]] under Lt. Col. Singh.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|309–310}}
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 For the remainder of the war, the raiders were content to secure the Burzil pass on the route to [[Skardu]] so as to secure the communications of their columns besieging Ladakh. The Indian Army devoid of infantry was unable to apre forces for progressing operations in this sector. Lt. Col. Singh, according to official war diaries, Gorkhas failed to clear Burzil Pass due to strong enemy counterattacks and he walked to Thimmaya requesting not to deploy the Regiment under his command to Ladakh.  This strategic deployment allowed complete command control communications for the entire Kashmir valley.
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
 [[Category:History of the Indian Army]]
 [[Category:Military operations involving India|Eraze]]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:J&K07low.jpg|thumb|300px|Operation Eraze]]'''Operation Eraze''' is the codename of the assault and '''capture of [[Gurais]]''' in northern [[Kashmir]] by the [[Indian Army]]  during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].
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 [[Category:History of the Indian Army]]
 [[Category:Military operations involving India|Eraze]]

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2022-03-02T04:10:34Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 09:40, 2 March 2022
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	[[Category:History of the Indian Army]]		[[Category:History of the Indian Army]]
	[[Category:Military operations involving India]]		[[Category:Military operations involving India\|Eraze]]
	Singh, Rajendra (1969) History of the Grenadiers		Singh, Rajendra (1969) History of the Grenadiers
	Singh, Rajendra (1955) Organisation and Administration in the Indian Army		Singh, Rajendra (1955) Organisation and Administration in the Indian Army

->Spockbuddha: /* References */

2021-07-04T10:48:04Z

References

New page

[[Image:J&K07low.jpg|thumb|300px|Operation Eraze]]'''Operation Eraze''' is the codename of the assault and '''capture of [[Gurais]]''' in northern [[Kashmir]] by the [[Indian Army]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].

==History==
[[Gurais]] is an important communication centre where the route from [[Srinagar]] comes north to the [[Kishanganga/Neelum River|Kishenganga river]], crosses it in the vicinity of Gurais and Dawar and then proceeds to [[Gilgit]] via the [[Burzil pass]] and the [[Astore Valley|Astor valley]]. Gurais is also connected to [[Muzaffarabad]] by a track along the river valley and by cross-country tracks south to [[Sonamarg]] and east to [[Dras]].<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947">{{cite book |title=History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947–1948 |last1=Prasad|first1=S.N.|last2=Dharm Pal |year=1987 |publisher=History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (Printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited) |location=New Delhi |pages=418 }}</ref>{{rp|308}}

The fall of Muzaffarabad led to the advancing of tribal lashkars to Gurais along the Kishenganga valley. Tribal lashkars pushed back by the operations of 161 Infantry Brigade in the winter of 1947 retreated to Gurais over the Rajdhani pass when the snows sealed the pass for the winter. Pakistani forces comprising regular army troops from the [[Gilgit Scouts]] and deserters from the princely State Forces reinforced the lashkars. The Pakistanis were poised to attack Tragbal just north of [[Bandipore]] and enter the Kashmir valley as soon as the snows melted.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|309–310}}

The Indian Army responded by sending 2nd Battalion, [[Bihar Regiment]] to advance on 15 April 1948 to contact the enemy along the pilgrim route, i.e. the Bandipore - Kanzalwan - Gurais axis. The battalion captured Tragbal and pushed the raiders back to the Rajdhani pass. In May 1948, the battalion was rotated and replaced by the 1st Battalion, [[The Grenadiers|Indian Grenadiers]] under Lt. Col. Singh.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|309–310}}

Maj Gen [[Kodendera Subayya Thimayya|K. S. Thimayya]], the 'General Officer Commanding' of the Srinagar Division, prepared for a spring offensive to counter the Pakistanis. The 1st Grenadiers won the race to capture the still snow-bound Rajdhani Pass, on the night of 26/27 May, occupying it hours before the Pakistanis. Thimayya now planned for the capture of Gurais codenamed Operation Eraze. Since a single battalion was inadequate, the 2nd Battalion, [[4 Gorkha Rifles]] was inducted to Tragbal and the 1st Grenadiers moved forward for offensive operations, supported by Patiala Mountain Battery.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|310–315}}
Thimayya planned to advance two companies of 2/4 GR on 24 June along the pilgrim route to hold the enemy and deceive him of the direction of the attack proper to be launched on 25 June by the 1st Grenadiers over the snow-capped ridges along a foot track through Viju Gali. The 1st Grenadiers advanced by tactical leaps and bounds but were caught in the open on the night of 26/27 June by a blizzard without shelter. By superhuman privations, they managed to bring up the guns, outflank the enemy and push him off the ridge towards Gurais. The enemy broke and ran and 1st Grenadiers captured Gurais on at dawn on 28 June.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|316–320}}

In the meantime, 2/4 Gorkha Rifles had successfully advanced along the pilgrim route and pushed back the Pakistanis from Kanzalwan which they captured with two companies. The Pakistanis stabilised their positions downriver of Kanzalwan and proceeded to isolate the Gorkha picquets. This left the road to Rajdhani pass, occupied by the Battalion Tactical Headquarters and one company of the 2/4 Gorkha Rifles, vulnerable to attack by large forces. A quick attack from Gurais on 26 July failed to relieve Kanzalwan. The 1st Grenadiers then launched a two-pronged night attack supported by artillery on 29 July. The Gorkhas by rigorous patrolling forced the Pakistanis and captured one of the dominating heights over Kanzalwan. The concerted attack broke the siege and the raiders fled westwards towards [[Taobat]], harried by air strikes of the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|320–324}}

For the remainder of the war, the raiders were content to secure the Burzil pass on the route to [[Skardu]] so as to secure the communications of their columns besieging Ladakh. The Indian Army devoid of infantry was unable to apre forces for progressing operations in this sector. Lt. Col. Singh, according to official war diaries, Gorkhas failed to clear Burzil Pass due to strong enemy counterattacks and he walked to Thimmaya requesting not to deploy the Regiment under his command to Ladakh. This strategic deployment allowed complete command control communications for the entire Kashmir valley.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:History of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military operations involving India]]
Singh, Rajendra (1969) History of the Grenadiers
Singh, Rajendra (1955) Organisation and Administration in the Indian Army

Soldier & Soldiering in India: Ten Essays
Singh, Rajendra (Brigadier Rajendra Singh, p.s.c.)
Published by Army Educational Stores, Inc No date given, Ambala Cantt., India

Singh, Rajendra Brigadier, Col. of Grenadiers: OPERATION SNIPE Presidential Honors of Gurais for the capture of Srinagar and Gurais by Grenadiers and 2/4th Gurkha 1948
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION F. No.CIC/AT/A/2006/00295 :
The appellant has asked for
‘all records’ of Field Marshal Cariappa and of General Thimayya; ‘all’ maps of the required subject
area; ‘all’ documents of General Srinagesh at that time; ‘all’ documents “alleged in the Rajendra
Singh’s letter……” and those connected with ‘Operation Snipe’; “all” the requests for enquiry and
requests for Gurais Medals of Honour by Brig Rajendra Singh “during any time in the Armed
Forces”; the reasons from “any person…… that denies the medals of Honour”, the history of Vij
Galli Hut, among others. The appellant has gone on to claim relief by way of award of Padma
Bhushan to late Lt.Col. Rajendra Singh as well as a Maha Param Vir Chakra and, an addendum
to be attached to the history of ‘Jammu & Kashmir Operation book’ produced by the Ministry of
Defence, to acknowledge the contribution of Lt. Col. Rajendra Singh, besides a formal apology
from the President of India to the family of Lt.Col. Rajendra Singh and so on.