Operation Polo

13^th September marked the 75th anniversary of Operation Polo.

About Operation Polo:

• It was a military action launched by the Indian Army on September 13, 1948, to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad with India.

Background of Operation Polo launched:

• The Nizam of Hyderabad state intended to keep his state as an independent entity and thus, did not join India or Pakistan after Independence.
• The Nizam had signed a standstill agreement with India in November 1947 to maintain a status quo between the Indian dominion and the Hyderabad state till a solution was found.
• Agreement was signed for a period of one year during which the Indian government would not exercise any authority over Hyderabad and all conditions prevalent at the time of signing the agreement would continue.

Why the Indian government launched the operation?

• The landlocked state had a majority of Hindu population with the state administration almost entirely run by its Muslim rulers.
• There was no common border with Pakistan but the Nizam had every intention to have relations with them.
• The Nizam’s administration in Hyderabad had taken advantage of the standstill agreement signed with India and increased the number of its irregular force called Razakars.
• Reasons of merger by India: Violence of the Razakars on the Hindu population of the state, through cross-border raids; the overtures being made to Pakistan and the intention to establish an independent country in the heart of India.

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