Chirala, Azad Kashmir

Prior to 1947, Chirala had a military outpost of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces. In October 1947, it was held by two Gorkha companies of the 7th Battalion of the State Forces, commanded by Captains Dalbir Singh and Lachman Dass. At the beginning of the October, the post was attacked by the Poonch rebels and subjected to "continuous mortar and medium machine-gun fire".[1]

Reinforcements were sent from Srinagar on 3 October, consisting of two companies of the 8th Battalion under Lt. Col. Maluk Singh . After passing Kohala, the force found that "every ridge, hilltop and track-bend" was held by the rebels offering stiff resistance. The reinforcements eventually reached the post on 7 October and evacuated the Gorkhas and the refugees taking shelter there. En route to Bagh, the forces again faced rebels along the way. After a stiff fight at Arja, they eventually reached Bagh on 13 October. Abdul Haq Suharwardy states that the rebel resistance was organised by Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan.[1][2]

Chirala thus came into the rebel hands and became part of Azad Kashmir.

The majority of the inhabitants of UC Chirala are the ڈھونڈ they call themselves عباسی. Other tribes such as the Syed, Awan, Raja Hashmi Qurashi etc.) also inhabit the area in smaller proportion. The main families of

• ڈھونڈ are (پلوا ل , الیا ل, کیوال ).
• Syed are نقوی ۔ بخاری جعفری
• Awan اعوان ۔ ملک اعوان ۔ قطب شاہی اعوان
• Raja تیزیال راجپوت جنجوعہ راجپوت۔ کھکے راجپوت

The main political parties from this area are JKLF, Muslim Conference, Jamaat e Islami, and PML (N).

Attique Ahmed Khan is the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Azad Kashmir (MLA) representing the area.[3] His opponent was Major(Retired) Latif Abbasi.