Formed in 1938 by MIM leader Bahadur Yar Jung, the organisation expanded considerably during the leadership of Qasim Razvi around the time of the partition of India.

[6] They were involved in various human right abuses and committed atrocities including mass killings, rapes and looting of villages, against the Hindu majority (which overwhelmingly favored Hyderabad's accession with India), and against participants of the Telangana Rebellion.

The Razakar militia brutally put down the armed revolts by Communist sympathizers and the peasantry and even eliminated Muslim activists such as journalist Shoebullah Khan who advocated merger with India.

[14][15] The Razakars terrorised the Hindu population and its sympathizers, causing many to flee to safety into the jungles, uninhabited mud forts, or neighboring Indian provinces.

[citation needed] Finally, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Indian Minister for Home Affairs, decided to undertake "police action" in Hyderabad State to force the Nizam's hand.

In January 1950, M. K. Vellodi, a senior civil servant was made the Chief Minister of the state and the Nizam was given the position of "Raj Pramukh" or "Governor".