Drama on High seas: how 88' Male (Maldives) coup leaders were held

[Virendra]

TOI Article by Sushil Kumar who was director of Navy Ops in 1988 and later the Navy Chief.
Drama on high seas: how ’88 Male coup leaders were held - The Times of India

Excerpts:

As the drama unfolded at sea, the Indian Navy operations room in Delhi was palpably tense yet privileged by the distinguished presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was keenly following the action. The Maldivian president had personally requested that the rebels be captured and brought back to Male to face trial, so ensuring the safety of the hostages and also rounding up the rebels was certainly going to be a daunting task. This was evident from the incalculable difficulty of the mission flashed to Captain Gopalachari, the task force commander --- "rescue the hostages and capture the rebels."

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But time was surely running out, so the task force commander on board INS Godavari was given an immediate aim -- "Stop Progress Light."

Captain Gopalachari rose to the occasion and improvised on the art of coercive diplomacy. Using his linguistic skills in South Indian languages, he personally engaged the rebel group leader Abdullah Luthufi in a bout of friendly negotiations while the IN task force of Godavari, Betwa and Tir provided a convincing firepower demonstration through a well-timed action sequence.

A four-inch shell shattered the foremast, ack-ack fire raked the foxle deck which knocked out the anchors and a massive undersea explosion from a helicopter-dropped depth charge sent a spine -chilling shudder through the rebel ship. Progress Light came to a deadhalt and lay motionless in the water. Before the dazed rebels realised what was happening, navy commandoes stormed on board and it was all over.

"Hostages rescued safely and rebels captured" was the final message from INS Godavari that brought down the curtain on Operation Cactus. It may perhaps remain just a footnote in our maritime history but Maldives 1988 certainly was an operation with a difference.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[W.G.Ewald]

If I may pick a nit:

ack-ack fire raked the foxle deck

That would be the foc'sle deck, or forecastle deck.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Captain Gopalachari and INS Godavari should be made available to deal with Somali pirates.

 

[sayareakd]

 

[Tshering22]

Too bad we couldn't do another Cactus this time because of a pathetic government. At least at that time, the current party had some spine.