INDIA: Invasion

Indian Premier Jawaharlal Nehru was determined to incorporate the princely state of Hyderabad into India. Hyderabad's Moslem Nizam, whose 15 million Hindu subjects are completely dominated by two million privileged Moslems, insisted on remaining independent (TIME, Aug. 30).

The Indian and Hyderabad governments exchanged the customary notes. Nehru demanded that the Nizam disband his private Moslem army of Razakars, headed by Kasim Razvi. The Nizam refused. Nehru announced: "We will march!" and warned that any blood shed would be on the Nizam's head. The Nizam said it would be on Nehru's head.

One day last week the Indian army marched into Hyderabad. Tanks and armored cars spearheaded the marching columns over the hard, flat ground. Squadrons of the Indian air force provided air cover. The early stages of the invasion seemed to be going according to plan. There was little resistance either from the regular Hyderabad army or from Kasim Razvi and his Moslem fanatics. Instead, Hyderabad rushed a request to the United Nations Security Council to consider the dispute. For good measure, Hyderabad asked to submit the case to the International Court of Justice.