Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir

District Poonch or Punch (Urdu: ضلع پونچ) is one of the remotest districts of Jammu and Kashmir. It is bounded by the Line of Control (boundary between Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir) on three sides (north, west and south). The 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan divided it into two parts. One went to Pakistan and the other became part of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Administration

The District headquarter is situated in the Poonch city. Presently District Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into four tehsils:

• Haveli Tehsil
• Mandi Tehsil
• Mendhar Tehsil
• Surankote Tehsil

Each tehsil has its Tehsildar, who is the administrative head. The district is further divided into six blocks: Poonch, Mandi, Mendhar, Balakote, Surankote and Buffliaz. The administrative head of each block is the Block Development Officer (BDO). Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

History

The Muslims of lower areas of Poonch i.e. Bagh and Rawalakot always resented the oppressive policies of the Dogra Maharaja of Jammu, after he took charge of Poonch in 1936. At the time of partition, there were rumours that Muslims were being massacred in Jammu. It enraged the Poonchies and they intensified the struggle for independence from Jammu. A major part of the district went to Azad Kashmir. During the 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan, Poonch city was under attack of tribals from Pakistan and the...
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