The drawback on the part of the Maharaja was his indecision. He changed horses midstream. He appointed General Janak Singh as his Prime Minister and then changed him soon after. He, however, brought two legal luminaries from the Punjab High Court, Bakhshi Sir Tek Chand and Mehar Chand Mahajan, the former as Advisor and the other as Prime Minister.

It was October 27, when J&K state had become the part and parcel of the Union of India, but the reality is that Pakistan had already usurped more than half the state by that time. Many district towns like Mirpur, Rajouri, Muzaffarabad, Baramula and Askardu had fallen and the infiltrators were storming the Srinagar airport. It was a miracle that the Indian Army pushed them back, cleared the airport and reoccupied Baramula within a short span of time. On the Jammu front, the gains of our security forces were not so astounding. Restoration of Rajouri, however, was a grand achievement.

The annihilation of Mirpur caused the ruination of about 25,000 people. The population of the town, however, dwindled when religious preachers from Pakistan advised the Muslims, during Friday prayers, to quit the town. Since the influx of Hindus from Pakistan had also picked up rapidly, some of the families from the adjoining towns made their way to Mirpur, thinking it would be safe because of its Hindu ruler. So the gap created by the outflow of Muslims was duly filled up.

About 25,000 Hindus had to face the fury of fate when the town fell. The DC took the few survivors of the state army and trailed through an unknown, exorbitantly lengthy mountainous and jungle-ridden path as the road leading to the nearest Indian army camp, Jhangar, was under enemy siege. Only those few who had assembled near the camp because of the panic, could follow the absconding army. This caravan could, however, reach Jhangar in about four or five days.

We were half-dead. The condition of elders, especially women and children, was deplorable. They were the worst sufferers. We wanted to stay there for a few days and to wait for our kith and kin who had been left behind. A few of us met the commander to allow us to stay on, but he advised us to reach Jammu as early as possible. The siege of the enemy was getting closer and it would be risky to prolong our stay.

On reaching Jammu, we found that the number of the survivors from Mirpur who had reached by that time was a meagre 3,400. A few of us decided to proceed to Delhi to seek the help of the Indian Government for their release as we had learnt that a majority of them had been taken as prisoners and were struggling between life and death.

Jawaharlal Nehru who consoled us, encouraged us and assured us that he was determined to take us back to our native land. "We will be fighting for every inch of the territory that has been illegally occupied by the aggressor," he said in so many words. His eyes were wet and his short, but daring, assertion is still ringing in my ears. When I recollect his posture, his firmness, his strength of mind, it was simply unbelievable that we were still there from where we started our journey.

We were, however, informed by his personal secretary that there was a full-fledged minister for Kashmir affairs and he was already seized of the sad plight of our natives who were languishing at the Alibeg camp. It will be still better if we could call upon him as well.

We lost no time and went straight to meet the minister. We thought he would be more concerned with our problem. While meeting Panditji, we had spoken very little and heard much like mute listeners. This time we should do the reverse. My associates asked me to act as their spokesman and give him a bit of our mind. We were impressed by the name of the minister — Vishnu Sahaye— but on meeting him we found that the name seldom reflects one’s true image. No doubt he did say, "I will do this, I will do that" but whatever he said was subject to something. He said, our forces will crush the infiltrators and get your people released but the roads have been smashed and bridges blown out. The whole area remains snow-clad. A big chunk of army is clearing the valley, which was more important. His observations went on ceaselessly.

I had to get up and say: "Listen sir! we have never seen snow in our region throughout our lives. Our area is as hot as Delhi. How is it that you are not interested in the topography of the state you govern? Excuse my frankness sir, we don’t doubt the heroism of our soldiers. Lack of roads and bridges cannot block their way. I believe, they are not baraatis. They ought to be tough and hard. We did receive proclamations issued by your ministry while at Mirpur, conveying — "Ample forces are being despatched" but not a single soldier turned up. Kindly note, if we are discriminated against, others too will be affected. It is not going to be a last strike, but just a beginning.".

The minister did not relish what I had said. My associates who accompanied me were doubtful, he would rescue our kith and kin. One of them was unhappy over my performance also and felt, I had been a little too outspoken. Alas, this territory still remains in Pakistan.