Indian Special Forces (archived)

[ezsasa]

...................................................................

On a side note, the guy in the video is a classic example of American entrepreneurship.

He is a veterinarian, he started as a YouTuber and now has company which sells t-shirts.

 

[Vorschlaghammer]

On a side note, the guy in the video is a classic example of American entrepreneurship.

He is a veterinarian, he started as a YouTuber and now has company which sells t-shirts.

Yep, the vetranch channel isn't half bad. Him, Hickok etc are excellent demonstrators of the capabilities of the latest development in firearms, but when it comes to in-depth stuff and history, nobody can top Gun Jesus.

 

[Suryavanshi]

On a side note, the guy in the video is a classic example of American entrepreneurship.

He is a veterinarian, he started as a YouTuber and now has company which sells t-shirts.

YouTube in the timeline of 2012 to 2015 used to be a quality website, it was a hub for entertainment related entrepreneurship.
Many YouTubers showcased their talent through their channel, many time they would go on to start their own company or get hired in respectable companies like Disney, Fox entertainments, TV channels etc.

 

[nongaddarliberal]

Yep, the vetranch channel isn't half bad. Him, Hickok etc are excellent demonstrators of the capabilities of the latest development in firearms, but when it comes to in-depth stuff and history, nobody can top Gun Jesus.

Gun jesus, do you mean forgotten weapons?

 

[rishivashista13]

If you have some time, Read this Thrilling one!!![emoji48]

Now time has come for the story of revenge raid we had promised.This is the real account of the revenge raid and is dedicated to Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh who were avenged.

Revenge of The Fallen -

Part 1

=========

The incident -

It is a cold winter morning, somewhere near the LOC in the Medhar area in Poonch sector.The area is a heavily vegetated jungle making the visibility very low ,as if things were not bad enough ,a thick fog engulf the whole area ,bringing down the visibility to near zero.In such conditions at January 8, 2013 , eight soldiers belonging to the 13 Rajputana Rifles are carrying out an area domination patrol (ADP) , in two escort parties including 6 jawans on back side and two on the front about 600 meters inside the LoC.The fence on the LoC in that particular area is built 2 Kms inside the Indian territory, as a result of which the Pakistani troops did not have to cross any obstacle to enter the Indian territory. As the jawans were carrying out their routine ,they were unaware that under the cover of thick fog and dense forest a Pakistani BAT team comprising of terrorists and Pakistani Army special forces has already infiltrated the area ,and have laid an ambush on their known route of patrol and were waiting for them.

The Indian Army patrolling party came under a heavy volley of automatic fire and grenades blasts as they entered the kill zone of the ambush area set by the Pakistani BAT ,which had laid a trap for them.As per the training and their natural instinct the two Indian army jawans who were leading the patrol ,rushed ahead and fired back, bearing the brunt of the attack and saving the rest of the group.Providing enough time and cover to the remaining patrolling party to move out of the kill zone.An intense firefight ensued for the next 30 minutes,after which there was a lull in firing.At that moment, the rear patrol party of 6 jawans came out of the cover and moved towards the kill zone,where it all started.As they moved forward ,they were shocked to see the two dead bodies of the Indian jawans, Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh who were leading the patrol party.To their dismay the enemy had slit the throats of both the soldiers in a brutal manner and their bodies were badly mutilated.The Pakistani BAT team had chopped off the heads of both the dead bodies of Indian Jawans and carried over one head to their side as a trophy.This news was soon out in open,there was a great hype around it in the media .The whole nation was grieved and full of rage and anger at this act of Pakistan.Temper and emotions ran high for few days, family of one of the martyred soldier demanded for the severed head of their son to be handed over to the family.This was not possible as the head has been taken across the LOC and Pakistan had blatantly denied of carrying out such an attack, as part of its usual SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).The aggravate family of the martyred soldiers was pacified by the Government by handing over some perks,financial assistance to them and a promise of revenge for the deaths and mutilation of the two brave jawans.The Indian Army vowed an appropriate response to the despicable act.After sometime as it happen often,this matter subsided and slowly faded away from the memory of the general public as well as the government at the center.

=====

Decision -

Fast forward few months ,a new government is formed in the center. Army chief is summoned by the suptrops of power in Delhi,somewhere in a secured location the chief present a briefing about the army preparedness and its future plans to a small group of who's who of government.He is asked to convey the immediate requirement of the armed forces.The chief put forward few requests along with the request to be granted the operational freedom ,which is granted to him.As the meeting near its end ,there is a request made by the highest chair in the meeting,he remember the incident of the particular decapitation carried out by the Pakistani BAT which is mentioned above ,he wants it to be avenged .All the person present there obliged to the request.A decision is made then and there to punish the main culprit behind the beheading and to seek revenge of the decapitation of our soldiers.

======

Zeroing in -

Important assets were put to work ,both inside and outside our country (types of assets is classified).One person, a commander of Lashkar-e-toiba Anwar khan was singled out.He was positively ID'd as the leader of the BAT team that had carried out the ambush and beheading of our two jawans .He was apparently rewarded by Pakistani agencies for the act of beheading carried out by him.Beside being the area commander ,Anwar was an expert in recon and was well aware of the topography of the LOC ,this knowledge was being used by him to push terrorists inside India.His fate was sealed then and there.He was a dead man walking ,only question was when and how.It was only a matter of time before his sins caught to him.

======

surveillance -

Surveillance was carried out through various means air,ground,IT and signals etc .Terrorists chatter were monitored and decoded ,their movement was tracked and assets across the LOC were activated.A particular house ,in a small Pakistani village of Rajouri district, just across the LOC was zeroed in.It was found that this particular house was frequented by Anwar.A local unit of the army at LOC was told to keep a overwatch on that house,as it was visible from our side of the LOC.The house was kept on constant vigil through various means ,day and night.Intelligence assets were activated and the exact date and time at which Anwar was expected to visit that house was found out.It was decided to carry out the op on that given date.

========

The team -

The task to take him out was given to an extremely elite group of men,whose only sign of existence are the trails of destruction they leave behind their playground.These men were highly skilled in their work and ruthless in nature. Anwar was a sadist in nature who used to enjoy all type of violent acts, but he had no idea that he is about to come across those who live and breathe violence .The main assault team was kept to minimum ,a mission oriented small team ,which is the most that is required to unleash hell at any given time and place.We can't reveal the name of the unit or force but it is suffice to say that they were India's very own Gods Of War.The very same unit which does not exist , about whom you will never hear,which carries out bad things in bad places on daily basis,far from any limelight or any kind of recognition.

=========

Reconnaissance -

Sometime before the due date,some member of the assault team crossed the LOC for a recon mission.They were loaded for more than a day and were carrying all the necessary equipment along with their ration.The recon party was heavily camouflaged ,with camo painted all over their face and wearing ghillie suits over their bodies, they blended in and become a part of the Jungle which was spread all across that area.Soon they were around the house which was zeroed in to carry out the mission,they located a vantage point ,across that house and started the recce.They were equipped with a variety of equipment to carry out their task.A close vigil was kept at that house ,the occupants,number of rooms,their layout ,all the movement and pattern both in and around that house was closely observed for few days.A kill zone was decided and a map was drawn of the area where all the action would to take place. Powerful scopes and cameras were used to draw detailed maps, diagrams, blueprints
of structures in the village,INFIL and EXFIL routes which provided excellent natural concealment through the terrain features and would easily allow a small body of men to move undetected were planned and marked .During all this time,they only changed their position once.They monitored the area for patterns of enemy movement and collected technical information-all while surviving the natural elements and staying out of sight of the locals and Pakistani forces in the area.After carrying out the recce and stalking of the target house and the village the recon team quietly ex-filled and returned back to their base ,leaving behind no trace of their presence in that area.With all the information gathered by the recon mission and from various other sources at their hand ,the team commander laid out a plan to carry out the raid.The mission was a 'go'.

- to be continued in part 2.

Sent from my Redmi 4A using Tapatalk

 

[rishivashista13]

Revenge of the Fallen -

Part 2

==========

Getting ready -

On the due date ,preparation for the raid began.Surprise and shock are basic element for a successful raid,for this you have to become a part of the terrain , use concealment and deception , approach unseen and remain hidden within striking distance of the enemy .The area where they were going to operate was densely vegetated and it was going to be dark.To exploit the terrain to their maximum advantage,the team members got dressed in a woodland pattern combat dress,painted their faces and hands black ,which would help them to melt away into the surrounding .Weapons of their choice were, a Pikka which is a 7.62x54mm general purpose machine gun, an extremely reliable and effective weapon whenever you want to rain down heavy fire on your enemies .PSG 1, a 7.62x51mm semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by the German company Heckler & Koch,an extremely accurate and efficient rifle to engage and take down threats from a distance.Then there was a mix of tavor TAR 21 and m4,these are 5.56x45mm assault rifles apt for carrying out swift fire assault and CQB(close quarter battle).All of these were the primary weapons and were equipped with night and thermal scopes .Beside these there were pistols as secondary,for times when it is too close for comfort.

Then there were claymore mines and grenades-to blow things up when required.Each of them was carrying a secure radio set along with tactical headsets ,to ensure secure and clear communication.They also had night vision goggles and handheld thermal cameras.Apart from these they had certain items ,which cannot be revealed here due to its CLASSIFIED NATURE.

With all the things in place and one last check of the weapons and gear the team gathered for the final briefing. After going through the map,plan and the call signs for the one last time ,the team of of elite predators was all set to carry out their task.

==========
INFIL -

This was going to be a night operation ,set in a cold winter night.By the time predators set out for the hunt,it was already dark.The LoC does not run in a straight line but creates geographical avenues, jutting into opposing territory.The terrain consist of mountains abruptly intersected by deep, steep sited valleys,rides, deep gorges and is characterized by thick forests and undergrowth in pockets, limiting visibility to the bare minimum.Unlike the Indian side the Pakistani side does not have any fencing , have very few number of post as well as troop deployment and carries out very little patrolling along the LOC.The reason behind this is not only the limited resources of Pakistan but also because unlike India they do not have the danger of hostile terrorist crossing over to their side to create mayhem, terrorist movement is one way out of Pakistan.However this unparity in troop deployment is fully exploited by Indian special forces, which get an easy access to that side of the LOC.

The infiltration was done on foot ,as it is the best mode to infiltrate maintaining stealth and surprise .The team was skillful in their use of camouflage, silent movement by night, and movement along the hill.They were accustomed to carrying heavy loads and travelling long distances on foot in form of speed marches , still the cold, wind, and steep terrain overgrown in places with thick vegetation made the trek a test of endurance and skill.Prior reconnaissance and marking of the INFIL route had already been carried out by them, they had thorough knowledge of the terrain and disposition of the Pakistani forces.Moreover they were ace hunters,who had honed their skills in the art of stealth ,tracking and recognizing signs in the jungle.Which enabled them to detect the men or animals moving through jungle,presence of a concealed enemy,enabled them to move without leaving signs of their passage and to avoid mines or booby traps.The team made their way through thick vegetation and broken terrain in complete darkness and finally made it to their planned hideout spot ,which was marked earlier during the recon.The hideout was located on a hill overlooking the target village ,behind the enemy lines.

============

The Village -

The hideout was shielded by thick vegetation and provided adequate shelter.As the team approached the hideout they conducted a brief halt, to rest and recuperate for a while.After sometime they moved into position overlooking the village and began their observation and recce of the village using high power nightvison and thermal scopes ,looking down hill.The village was located at the bottom of the hill.It consist of a cluster of 15 to 20 houses along with a masjid,material used for construction of the houses was mainly mud,wood and a little mix of concrete.The village was situated in a small valley with its open end facing towards the khueretta town.

There were two narrow foot trails moving out of the village through the cultivated fields around the village,these trails were leading to an asphalt road located at a distance.Being a remote village there was no electricity connection in that village.The village lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds,of a cold winter night,there were solar lamps lit in some houses,whose lights could be seen twinkling dimly from the distances .The atmosphere was calm and peaceful ,not a single soul was in sight.Being late at night most of the people were already slept or preparing to go to bed.The moonlight was dimly reflected by the dome of the village mosque.This peace of the village night would now and then broken by barking and howling of dogs somewhere at a distance,as if they have sensed the bad omen that loomed over the village that night.The target house was located at the outer edge of the village,near the bottom of the hill .A glitter of light from the solar lamp was coming through the window of the house indicating that people were still up.

=========

Assault

After scouting and scanning the sleepy village in detail,the team leader held a final briefing after which the team got divided into sub groups and the men encircled the village under the cover of darkness.The sniper took position at vantage point situated on a high ground,providing perfect line of sight of the target house and overlooking the entire village.Some team members took position along the trails moving out of the village,to block the escape routes once the target had arrived.Few men took position around the village,with the entire village covered through their line of fire.A small assault group lead by the team leader moved down towards the village,and positioned themselves in the bushes and thick vegetation surrounding the target house.With everyone in place and the cordon laid,stage was set for the assault ,now the wait began.

There was an eerie silence in the area,just like a graveyard .The ghosts were already there only the "dead body" was yet to arrive.The silence was finally broken by the crackle of radio and the call sign echoing in the ears of the team leader.The forward scout reported that two vehicles had come to a halt on the asphalt road ,just at the edge of one of the trail leading to the village and he could spot 5 figures moving on foot toward the village ; however it was not possible to id them as they had their face covered and not much was visible through the night vision.Contrary to previous input indicating Anwar to be alone ,it was a small group that had arrived. However ,in special forces you are always prepared to expect the unexpected.A mission is a fluid situation ,where you have to adapt as per the situation demand and ensure successful accomplishment of the mission .

The team leader waited with the bated breath,soon he could see those figures approaching the target house.As they came close ,it was clear that 2 of them were holding ak series rifles,since other three were wearing shawl , it was not easy to make out whether they were carrying any weapons or not.The team leader decided to wait and watch before executing the assault. Soon those figures reached the target house,two of them moved inside the house while the three of them stayed outside the house.

The team had special equipment which enabled them to hear the conversation going on inside the target house from a distance,through this they were able to id one of the voice as Anwar,as they were familiar with his voice and had his call recordings in their database.From the conversation it was clear that he had no idea of the danger lurking around,he seemed to have his guard down as he could be heard gossiping about girls and merry making in general.It was the right time for assault,but before the team leader could signal for it ,he was in for a shock , he saw two figures approaching towards him.These two men were among the three men who had stayed outside the target house,they were most probably the bodyguards of Anwar and were caring ak 47 rifles.With these two men approaching ,multiple thoughts start running through his head .Have they seen him,should he deal with them then and there but then any noise could jeopardize their mission and blow their cover too soon.In fraction of seconds he had to evaluate the threat,choose the right course of action to ensure the success of mission. Suddenly out of the two men approaching,one of them halted and turned around while the other kept on coming towards the bush, team leader was positioned in.On approaching the bush the man started lowering his pajama and start preparing to take a piss,at this point the team leader lowered his assault rifle and let it slung by his side, reached out for the khukri he was carrying and then gently draw it out,he had made his decision.

The team leader sprang out of the bush and before the bodyguard could lift his head ,beheaded him in one clean sweep of his khukri in a flash.Even before the dislodged head could roll over the ground ,the team leader turned his attention toward the other bodyguard who was unaware of the carnage that had just occurred behind his back.The elite predator having already tasted the blood of his enemy,carefully approached the second bodyguard from behind .Stalking his prey and moving swiftly , with an elegance of a tiger without making a sound.The head of the bodyguard was already painted by the red dots of the rifle laser of other members of the assault team,any sudden movement would have resulted in a bullet to his head.As the team leader approached his prey from behind, he placed his left hand on the mouth of the bodyguard and slit his throat from the khukri in his right hand ,in a complete text book style kill.In less than a minute death has struck twice ,in complete silence .The blood soaked khukri glittered in the moon light before it went back into into its sheath.With his rifle raised the team leader signaled the rest of the assault team to move in for the assault.They started moving towards the target house ,just like the fog moving swiftly ,silently in a cold winter night .As the assault team approached the house ,there was a thud ,as a high velocity round ripped through the night air and tore through the neck of the third guard postioned in front of the house,killing him instantly before he knew what had hit him.It was a divine intervention,deleiverd by a protective god ,the sniper ,who was overlooking the movement of the assault team from his vantage point.

The door of the house was only partially closed and not locked,within moments the assault team stormed into the house.The first room was large and square, all of stone with walls covered with mud and rugs on the floor.There were two wooden cots placed perpendicular to each other and a wooden trunk placed by the side of the wall with a solar lamp resting on it.A small table was placed in front of the kots. A bottle of alcohol ,jug of water and plates with snacks were placed on that table.Two AK 47 rifles were propped against the wall next to one of the cot.There were two men inside the room,one on each cot with a glass in their hand.One of them was Anwar himself while another one seemed to be the man who was accompanying him.The two men were caught unaware,with complete surprise.The other man had realized that none other than the Death itself had just walked in,his eyes were wide with fear,feelings of disbelief and shock was evident on his face, He went for the ak lying near his cot,when the first bullet ripped through his shoulder.The man opened his mouth to yell,but only a slight grunt came out,as the second and third bullets smashed through his forehead and nose ending his life.Even Anwar realized that his end is near,startled in a fit of rage he stood up , muttering a few cuss words he lifted his hand to throw the glass toward the team leader ,but before he could proceed a kick caught him in the stomach and pushed the air from his lungs.He coughed ,gasping for breath.The toe of the man's hard shoe slammed into him once more sending him onto his back and knocking the wind out of him.In a fit of rage he rose once again on his feet and tried to swung his body wildly, but his attempt was cut short by a bullet that smashed into his skull,shattering the bone as he collasped down,never to rise again.

=============

Mission Accomplished

This is how the story of Anwar came to an end.With his head blown open by a bullet, brain spilled out all over the floor and the body laid there in a pool of blood.His death was a reflection of the life he had lived ,all bloody and mess.Meanwhile few members of the assault team carried out the thorough search of the house,they found the owner of the house along with his wife and two daughters bundled in a corner of one room(the assault team was aware of their identity ,due to prior intel).The ladies were crying profoundly in a state of fear and hysteria ,the man was folding his trembling hands with his eyes wide open,as he looked in horror towards these angles of Death who had descended upon his house that fateful night.It was ensured that none of them was carrying any weapon and then they were made to sit in a corner with their mouth shut.During all this, a field dressing was applied to the head of the dead body of Anwar ,to cover all the mess and ensure that his head remain intact ,his body had to be taken back across the LOC as per the orders.Within few minutes they placed the dead body of Anwar on a body bag they were carrying and were ready to move out.Many villagers had heard the sound of the gunshots leading to noise and commotion in the village,however not a single soul could dare to move toward that house, as they were aware that it was not a wild animal but the devil himself who was on hunt that night and any movement or any interference in the devil's playground would be detrimental to their fate.With the task accomplished, soon the predators set out of the house and melt away in the dense vegetation and darkness of the night ,just like they had arrived.The dead body of Anwar ,as well as the few intel gathered from the spot was carried back.The rifles of the dead terrorists were also taken as a trophy of the hunt.They made their way back to their base through the LOC as per the pre determined exfil routes,the mission was successful and revenge had been served cold.

=========
The End

By daybreak the predators were back at their den.What they had left behind was a trail of destruction and mayhem,the four dead bodies lying in and around the target house were the only mark left behind by them, which signify their wrath which fell upon the Pakistani village that night.Whatever happened that night would surely turn into the folklore of that village ,and will be passed from one generation to the other.If you happen to visit that village and hear the tale of the Devils lurking in night,you better believe it.

The dead body of Anwar was displayed to certain group of people,positioned higher up in the government,now it lies six feet under the ground somewhere inside the Indian territory .The news of his death was revealed to the general public,but the people who were credited and the circumstance and place of his death were altered.The people who carried out the hunt will always remain in the shadows ,only to rise once again , when the blood needs to flow ,to raise a storm and strike the fear into the hearts of our enemies.To deliver fire and fury ,whenever and wherever the Nation Demand.

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Photos

1.

2. A special one which tasted blood in 1 cross LoC Raid

3. Deadbody of Anwar his Pakistani ID card

4. LoC terrain where Indian Army stands guard 24/7 and crossed over whenever necessary

(Shatrujeet)

Sent from my Redmi 4A using Tapatalk

 

[WolfPack86]

SPG, Counter Assault Team (CAT ) armed with 7.62×51mm NATO, SCAR - H with Combo Trijcon and RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex ) Scope Usually the Pistol they carry is FN 5/7
https://twitter.com/shatrujeet009?lang=en

 

[Jay99]

so are we talking about some another Seal team 6 like unit which exist within SF ?

 

[mayfair]

Could be a diversionary tactic, to keep the people guessing.

 

[Maddy_9UY]

Is it potentially used to hunt animals for food while on patrol? you can avoid firing your weapon in such cases.

When first Marcos pictures with crossbows were posted in early 2000, it was reported that they used poisoned tipped arrows to neutralize enemy.

 

[rkhanna]

View attachment 22888

so are we talking about some another Seal team 6 like unit which exist within SF ?

Most likely SG only. Otherwise there have been various adhoc covert Task Forces that get formed up and then shut down over time. TSD, SIT J/X, etc. (MI has a long history of poaching SOF personal and creating temporary sub units)

 

[Jay99]

Most likely SG only. Otherwise there have been various adhoc covert Task Forces that get formed up and then shut down over time. TSD, SIT J/X, etc. (MI has a long history of poaching SOF personal and creating temporary sub units)

How are SG different from SF?

3000000000000000

 

[Indian Sniper.001]

A pretty long one, but DO read.

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Major Vikramaditya, 31, clearly remembers how he first came to hear about para commandos. It was in the summer of 2000, when he and his young friends had gathered at Vikram Park in Udhampur to witness para jumps in the run-up to the Infantry Day celebrations on October 27. “‘Para commandos are deadly. What they do, and who they are, I don’t know. But they can kill a human with their bare hands.’ These were the first words I heard from a classmate at the Army Public School in Udhampur,” says Vikramaditya, who was born in a small village called Chiryai near Udhampur.

The sight of the paratroopers filled the 14-year-old with awe. “I saw men coming down on parachutes, as if they were coming from some other planet, and landing right in front of us,” he says. “They were like men out of a fairy tale. They smiled and waved at the children happily, and it seemed to me that they had bulbs in their eyes.”

Vikramaditya’s father, a geologist, had always told him to follow his heart when choosing a career. That day, on the lawns of Vikram Park, Vikramaditya set his heart on becoming a para commando himself.

Seventeen years later, he is living his dream. He is a member of the 10 Para (SF), an elite unit of special forces commandos who are trained to be masters of battlecraft. They are so skilled in carrying out special ops behind enemy lines that each one of them is a weapon unto himself.

The para commandos are part of the Army’s Parachute Regiment. There are 14 units in the regiment—nine special forces and five para. The para units can airdrop deep into enemy territory and give tangible gains to ground forces. The special forces units can be launched into battle from land, air and water.

Among all the elite forces in the world, the para commandos have earned the reputation of being the toughest. Granted, the Americans and Israelis have better weapons and equipment, but when it comes to grit and valour, the para commandos are unmatched.

They proved it in June 2002, when India was invited for the first time to take part in a gruelling contest of special forces from across the world. “As luck would have it, I was reading the newspaper some days after the event,” recalled Vikramaditya. “I saw a headline: ‘When the going gets tough, India tops.’ It was a story on 10 Para (SF), which had come first in the special forces competition in Africa’s Kalahari Desert, defeating the likes of the Special Air Service of the UK and Green Berets of the US.”

To win accolades, India’s para commandos had to overcome several challenges in the unforgiving Kalahari. At one point, a commando’s parachute apparently failed to open, and his emergency parachute landed him so hard that he broke an ankle. Still, the team went on to win the endurance test. Clearly, it is not for nothing that the para commandos call themselves the Desert Scorpions. They never lose their sting.

The year 10 Para (SF) outshone its British and American counterparts in the Kalahari, Vikramaditya joined the National Defence Academy in Pune. In 2006, after being commissioned as an officer in the Army, he volunteered to join 10 Para (SF) on probation. He was just 22 when his team commander first tasked him with leading an operation—searching for and eliminating terrorists in the higher reaches of Kashmir.

“I look responsible and mature today,” says Vikramaditya, who is tall and well built, with a chiselled face and piercing eyes. “But, back then, I was young and inexperienced, and I had a team to lead. In such situations, one learns that there is only a short distance between life and death…. But, when you spend 10 months in your battalion and two months at your home, there comes a time when there is no distinction between you and the battalion. You become the battalion.”

Vikramaditya has several identities today—he is a son, husband, father and, to fellow troopers, a brother. Like other para commandos, he is referred to by his code name during operations, and has taken part in several successful missions. But, ask him about those missions, and he smiles evasively.

The special forces swear by stealth and secrecy, and their exploits are not acknowledged publicly. An exception was in September 2016, when the para commandos carried out one of the biggest surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border, killing more than a dozen terrorists. A few more silent, swift and deadly operations have since been carried out against the Pak terror apparatus, but none have made news.

THE WEEK spent days with Vikramaditya and his brothers in a desert area in Rajasthan, not too far away from the India-Pakistan border, and found that they had a lot in common with the place they were stationed. They were as raw, rugged and relentless as the landscape that could not be named. Para commandos of other units had also come to join them.

The smell of gunpowder hangs in the dry desert air. For the commandos, it is intoxicating and energising. Every day, they walk the wire between life and death. Part of their uniform is a striking red badge that reads ‘Balidaan’, or martyrdom. Do not be fooled, though. “If the enemy wants to die, we will do the needful,” says Vikramaditya. “At the same time, if we have to lay down our lives, we will not think twice.”

The SF teams operate in squads of six. Each of them master one of five basic skills—demolition, navigation, weapons, communication and providing medical assistance.

Shock and awe: A para commando storms a building during a training session.
​

The basic training for all special forces units is the same. It is only the specialisation that makes them different. “Every man in the battalion is a trained medic and a qualified desert driver,” says Major Shatrujeet, an ace combat free faller and diver. “Free fallers use techniques like HAHO (high altitude high opening) and HALO (high altitude low opening) to jump out of aircraft and drop deep inside enemy territory. The combat divers, on the other hand, launch themselves into war zone using water bodies. They are not just a threat to enemy vessels, but can also cause mayhem on ground.”

A soldier does not get selected straight into the special forces. Instead, officers or jawans belonging to regiments volunteer to join the SF. They undergo a three-month probation, and are free to leave the special forces and return to their parent units.

The volunteers are expected to be daring—like being ready to jump out of an aircraft at 20,000ft. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a couple of them had even jumped straight into battlefield, without undergoing any training. “There is some madness about the men who make it to the special forces,” says Shatrujeet. “These are men who can go beyond what a normal man can do.”

A key part of training is the ‘survival week’, when a probationer learns to live off the land. “Special forces operations are long-duration operations, which can vary from a couple of days to a fortnight or more. There are times when the ration the commandos are carrying may not suffice. In such situations, their survival skills come into play,” says Shatrujeet.

Probationers are left in the wild, where they learn to eat anything that is edible. “Majority of the plants that are found in the jungle are edible,” says Captain Sangram, who has just completed probation. “The plants that are dark in colour, taste bitter or have sap flowing out of them should be avoided. Everything else can be eaten. In the case of animals, one needs to clear its alimentary canal, before eating the rest of it.”

The commandos are trained to handle cobras and vipers. “He is exposed to poisonous snakes, which he has to catch with his bare hands. It helps in overcoming one’s fear. When the same commando has to handle explosives, he knows how to deal with high-pressure situations,” says Sangram.

During the probation period, unit training cells comprising an officer and a few jawans test each volunteer’s physical and mental limits. Major Dhruv, who has been with 10 Para (SF) for eight years, grins while talking about his probation days. “I was asked to run 20 kilometres with 30kg load every day for a week,” he says. “I was also made to crawl in the blazing sun, and sit in a ditch at night keeping vigil. After a week, I was in a state of delirium. I was then asked to give a write-up on assault rifles. When you can’t keep your eyes open or think clearly, how can you write anything? But, that is where your mental strength is tested.”

The probationers are denied even basic amenities. “Your sleep cycle, daily routine and ability to think straight are tested,” says Dhruv. “Often, volunteers give up within hours, or after a few weeks. Those who survive it—two or three in a hundred—get a chance to join the special forces. There have been times when no one was selected.”

Every man has his breaking point. “I suffered a stress fracture in my leg during probation. That was my tipping point,” says Dhruv. According to him, para commandos are trained to think clearly, and yet do unexpected things. “It is only then that the enemy will not be able to anticipate what I am going to do next,” he says.

When asked where he sees himself after some years, Dhruv says, “I did not join SF to become a senior officer one day. I came here out of choice, to be with the best in the business. I don’t think beyond the next firefight and the next hockey game. Anything more than that would be a bonus.”

A tall, barrel-chested man, Dhruv can bench-press double his bodyweight. He practises martial arts and is an expert in handling lethal tools and weapons. “Each skill and every bit of training come in handy when we go for operations,” he says.

On June 25 last year, SF commandos were tasked with eliminating terrorists holed up at the Delhi Public School in Srinagar. “It was a tedious task as it involved a complex building structure with hundreds of rooms,” says Major Shaurya, who has spent three years in the Valley. “The layout of the building was such that natural cover was available to the terrorists. This gave them advantage.” Still, the commandos outmanoeuvred the terrorists and killed two of them after a 14-hour gun battle.

But, outcomes are not always positive. In February 2016, Captain Pawan Kumar and Captain Tushar Mahajan died fighting terrorists holed up in the Entrepreneur Development Institute near Pampore in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The son of a headmaster in a village school in Haryana’s Jind district, Pawan had always dreamt of joining the Army. When he completed class 12, he joined the sought-after maths (honours) course at Ramjas College in Delhi. But, he quit and joined the Army after he received a letter from the Services Selection Board.

After spending a year in the Dogra regiment, he volunteered to join the special forces. After probation, he joined counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir. He was advised to go on medical leave after he was injured in one of the operations. “He requested the doctor not to endorse the leave, and returned to join the team,” recalls Vishal Ahlawat, Pawan’s friend and fellow para commando.

Pawan’s father, Rajbir Singh, 54, spoke to THE WEEK on Army Day (January 15), which is also Pawan’s birthday. “When your own child sacrifices his life for the country, what greater happiness can you get,” he said. “All of us should be ready to make that sacrifice. People die in accidents, too; so why should anyone fear death? God has created human beings to do glorious deeds. That is my message to the youth today.”

Said Dev Raj Gupta, Captain Tushar Mahajan’s father and a renowned physicist: “I am a proud father. It is true he has left us, but someone has to do this job, too. Yes, we miss him.”

Tushar’s mother, Asha Rani, 55, recalled that he used to move around her in circles, teasing her, before kissing her goodbye and leaving the house. “The last time he came to meet us and left home, he did not do that,” she said. “I miss having him around me. He treated me more as a friend than as his mother.” Today, the void left by Tushar is filled by his brother commandos, who seek Asha Rani’s blessings whenever they get a chance. Both Tushar and Pawan were awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

Back in the deserts of Rajasthan, Vikramaditya and his team of para commandos are preparing to leave for “tasks” assigned to them by the commanding officer. They had been discussing plans, and working out details, well into the wee hours.

Wherever he goes, Vikramaditya carries a small backpack containing a water bottle, a small prayer book and a diary gifted by his three-year-old daughter. Some pages in the diary have motivational quotes—“Every day, move ahead from where you are,” reads one. Other pages have to-do lists: “Internet for parents”, “Look for post-retirement avenues for troops”, “Have lunch in team langar today”, and so on.

Vikramaditya explains that the entries in the lists are marked in blue, black and red. The tasks he has completed are ticked blue, those in the works are black, and those yet to be started are marked red. He says he likes his life to be “sorted”. As he folds his diary, puts it back in his bag, and hops on to a bicycle gifted by his wife on his birthday, he looks a lot like a common man going home after a long day’s work.

“Wives of para commandos are special, in the sense that they remain an equal partner in their husband’s life,” he says with a proud smile. “They talk to the ladies and family members of the jawans, and sort out problems when their husbands go for operations. They keep their own fears and insecurities to themselves.”

A bright and bubbly woman, Vikramaditya’a wife is the pillar of strength for the family. “We don’t pass on our fears to children,” she says. “There is as much fun and frolic in our house as in any other home. An occasional call or message from my husband is enough reassurance.”

She then smiles and shares a secret: “Even on WhatsApp, I tell him, ‘Chitthi likhte rehna [Keep writing to me].’ That’s how I sign off.”

The hour has come for Vikramaditya to leave. He has covered his face using a green shemagh, leaving only his eyes visible. He has left his bicycle in the barracks, and is out in the bone-chilling cold of the desert. It is pitch dark and silent, and I am reminded of what he had said once: “If you talk or whisper, each word that you speak will be heard by the enemy. This is what is so different about deserts. It carries each sound.”

He climbs into a rugged jeep that will soon take him to the edge of Indian territory. There, he would become invisible, but vulnerable to the elements and the enemy. In a way, however, he would be at home.

It was about men like Vikramaditya that Bernard Law Montgomery, the legendary field marshal, once said, “What manner of men are these who wear the maroon beret? Men apart, every man an emperor.”

Names of serving men have been changed.

~ http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/india-para-commandos.html

 

[rkhanna]

Revenge of the Fallen -

Part 2

==========

Getting ready -

On the due date ,preparation for the raid began.Surprise and shock are basic element for a successful raid,for this you have to become a part of the terrain , use concealment and deception , approach unseen and remain hidden within striking distance of the enemy .The area where they were going to operate was densely vegetated and it was going to be dark.To exploit the terrain to their maximum advantage,the team members got dressed in a woodland pattern combat dress,painted their faces and hands black ,which would help them to melt away into the surrounding .Weapons of their choice were, a Pikka which is a 7.62x54mm general purpose machine gun, an extremely reliable and effective weapon whenever you want to rain down heavy fire on your enemies .PSG 1, a 7.62x51mm semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by the German company Heckler & Koch,an extremely accurate and efficient rifle to engage and take down threats from a distance.Then there was a mix of tavor TAR 21 and m4,these are 5.56x45mm assault rifles apt for carrying out swift fire assault and CQB(close quarter battle).All of these were the primary weapons and were equipped with night and thermal scopes .Beside these there were pistols as secondary,for times when it is too close for comfort.

Then there were claymore mines and grenades-to blow things up when required.Each of them was carrying a secure radio set along with tactical headsets ,to ensure secure and clear communication.They also had night vision goggles and handheld thermal cameras.Apart from these they had certain items ,which cannot be revealed here due to its CLASSIFIED NATURE.

With all the things in place and one last check of the weapons and gear the team gathered for the final briefing. After going through the map,plan and the call signs for the one last time ,the team of of elite predators was all set to carry out their task.

==========
INFIL -

This was going to be a night operation ,set in a cold winter night.By the time predators set out for the hunt,it was already dark.The LoC does not run in a straight line but creates geographical avenues, jutting into opposing territory.The terrain consist of mountains abruptly intersected by deep, steep sited valleys,rides, deep gorges and is characterized by thick forests and undergrowth in pockets, limiting visibility to the bare minimum.Unlike the Indian side the Pakistani side does not have any fencing , have very few number of post as well as troop deployment and carries out very little patrolling along the LOC.The reason behind this is not only the limited resources of Pakistan but also because unlike India they do not have the danger of hostile terrorist crossing over to their side to create mayhem, terrorist movement is one way out of Pakistan.However this unparity in troop deployment is fully exploited by Indian special forces, which get an easy access to that side of the LOC.

The infiltration was done on foot ,as it is the best mode to infiltrate maintaining stealth and surprise .The team was skillful in their use of camouflage, silent movement by night, and movement along the hill.They were accustomed to carrying heavy loads and travelling long distances on foot in form of speed marches , still the cold, wind, and steep terrain overgrown in places with thick vegetation made the trek a test of endurance and skill.Prior reconnaissance and marking of the INFIL route had already been carried out by them, they had thorough knowledge of the terrain and disposition of the Pakistani forces.Moreover they were ace hunters,who had honed their skills in the art of stealth ,tracking and recognizing signs in the jungle.Which enabled them to detect the men or animals moving through jungle,presence of a concealed enemy,enabled them to move without leaving signs of their passage and to avoid mines or booby traps.The team made their way through thick vegetation and broken terrain in complete darkness and finally made it to their planned hideout spot ,which was marked earlier during the recon.The hideout was located on a hill overlooking the target village ,behind the enemy lines.

============

The Village -

The hideout was shielded by thick vegetation and provided adequate shelter.As the team approached the hideout they conducted a brief halt, to rest and recuperate for a while.After sometime they moved into position overlooking the village and began their observation and recce of the village using high power nightvison and thermal scopes ,looking down hill.The village was located at the bottom of the hill.It consist of a cluster of 15 to 20 houses along with a masjid,material used for construction of the houses was mainly mud,wood and a little mix of concrete.The village was situated in a small valley with its open end facing towards the khueretta town.

There were two narrow foot trails moving out of the village through the cultivated fields around the village,these trails were leading to an asphalt road located at a distance.Being a remote village there was no electricity connection in that village.The village lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds,of a cold winter night,there were solar lamps lit in some houses,whose lights could be seen twinkling dimly from the distances .The atmosphere was calm and peaceful ,not a single soul was in sight.Being late at night most of the people were already slept or preparing to go to bed.The moonlight was dimly reflected by the dome of the village mosque.This peace of the village night would now and then broken by barking and howling of dogs somewhere at a distance,as if they have sensed the bad omen that loomed over the village that night.The target house was located at the outer edge of the village,near the bottom of the hill .A glitter of light from the solar lamp was coming through the window of the house indicating that people were still up.

=========

Assault

After scouting and scanning the sleepy village in detail,the team leader held a final briefing after which the team got divided into sub groups and the men encircled the village under the cover of darkness.The sniper took position at vantage point situated on a high ground,providing perfect line of sight of the target house and overlooking the entire village.Some team members took position along the trails moving out of the village,to block the escape routes once the target had arrived.Few men took position around the village,with the entire village covered through their line of fire.A small assault group lead by the team leader moved down towards the village,and positioned themselves in the bushes and thick vegetation surrounding the target house.With everyone in place and the cordon laid,stage was set for the assault ,now the wait began.

There was an eerie silence in the area,just like a graveyard .The ghosts were already there only the "dead body" was yet to arrive.The silence was finally broken by the crackle of radio and the call sign echoing in the ears of the team leader.The forward scout reported that two vehicles had come to a halt on the asphalt road ,just at the edge of one of the trail leading to the village and he could spot 5 figures moving on foot toward the village ; however it was not possible to id them as they had their face covered and not much was visible through the night vision.Contrary to previous input indicating Anwar to be alone ,it was a small group that had arrived. However ,in special forces you are always prepared to expect the unexpected.A mission is a fluid situation ,where you have to adapt as per the situation demand and ensure successful accomplishment of the mission .

The team leader waited with the bated breath,soon he could see those figures approaching the target house.As they came close ,it was clear that 2 of them were holding ak series rifles,since other three were wearing shawl , it was not easy to make out whether they were carrying any weapons or not.The team leader decided to wait and watch before executing the assault. Soon those figures reached the target house,two of them moved inside the house while the three of them stayed outside the house.

The team had special equipment which enabled them to hear the conversation going on inside the target house from a distance,through this they were able to id one of the voice as Anwar,as they were familiar with his voice and had his call recordings in their database.From the conversation it was clear that he had no idea of the danger lurking around,he seemed to have his guard down as he could be heard gossiping about girls and merry making in general.It was the right time for assault,but before the team leader could signal for it ,he was in for a shock , he saw two figures approaching towards him.These two men were among the three men who had stayed outside the target house,they were most probably the bodyguards of Anwar and were caring ak 47 rifles.With these two men approaching ,multiple thoughts start running through his head .Have they seen him,should he deal with them then and there but then any noise could jeopardize their mission and blow their cover too soon.In fraction of seconds he had to evaluate the threat,choose the right course of action to ensure the success of mission. Suddenly out of the two men approaching,one of them halted and turned around while the other kept on coming towards the bush, team leader was positioned in.On approaching the bush the man started lowering his pajama and start preparing to take a piss,at this point the team leader lowered his assault rifle and let it slung by his side, reached out for the khukri he was carrying and then gently draw it out,he had made his decision.

The team leader sprang out of the bush and before the bodyguard could lift his head ,beheaded him in one clean sweep of his khukri in a flash.Even before the dislodged head could roll over the ground ,the team leader turned his attention toward the other bodyguard who was unaware of the carnage that had just occurred behind his back.The elite predator having already tasted the blood of his enemy,carefully approached the second bodyguard from behind .Stalking his prey and moving swiftly , with an elegance of a tiger without making a sound.The head of the bodyguard was already painted by the red dots of the rifle laser of other members of the assault team,any sudden movement would have resulted in a bullet to his head.As the team leader approached his prey from behind, he placed his left hand on the mouth of the bodyguard and slit his throat from the khukri in his right hand ,in a complete text book style kill.In less than a minute death has struck twice ,in complete silence .The blood soaked khukri glittered in the moon light before it went back into into its sheath.With his rifle raised the team leader signaled the rest of the assault team to move in for the assault.They started moving towards the target house ,just like the fog moving swiftly ,silently in a cold winter night .As the assault team approached the house ,there was a thud ,as a high velocity round ripped through the night air and tore through the neck of the third guard postioned in front of the house,killing him instantly before he knew what had hit him.It was a divine intervention,deleiverd by a protective god ,the sniper ,who was overlooking the movement of the assault team from his vantage point.

The door of the house was only partially closed and not locked,within moments the assault team stormed into the house.The first room was large and square, all of stone with walls covered with mud and rugs on the floor.There were two wooden cots placed perpendicular to each other and a wooden trunk placed by the side of the wall with a solar lamp resting on it.A small table was placed in front of the kots. A bottle of alcohol ,jug of water and plates with snacks were placed on that table.Two AK 47 rifles were propped against the wall next to one of the cot.There were two men inside the room,one on each cot with a glass in their hand.One of them was Anwar himself while another one seemed to be the man who was accompanying him.The two men were caught unaware,with complete surprise.The other man had realized that none other than the Death itself had just walked in,his eyes were wide with fear,feelings of disbelief and shock was evident on his face, He went for the ak lying near his cot,when the first bullet ripped through his shoulder.The man opened his mouth to yell,but only a slight grunt came out,as the second and third bullets smashed through his forehead and nose ending his life.Even Anwar realized that his end is near,startled in a fit of rage he stood up , muttering a few cuss words he lifted his hand to throw the glass toward the team leader ,but before he could proceed a kick caught him in the stomach and pushed the air from his lungs.He coughed ,gasping for breath.The toe of the man's hard shoe slammed into him once more sending him onto his back and knocking the wind out of him.In a fit of rage he rose once again on his feet and tried to swung his body wildly, but his attempt was cut short by a bullet that smashed into his skull,shattering the bone as he collasped down,never to rise again.

=============

Mission Accomplished

This is how the story of Anwar came to an end.With his head blown open by a bullet, brain spilled out all over the floor and the body laid there in a pool of blood.His death was a reflection of the life he had lived ,all bloody and mess.Meanwhile few members of the assault team carried out the thorough search of the house,they found the owner of the house along with his wife and two daughters bundled in a corner of one room(the assault team was aware of their identity ,due to prior intel).The ladies were crying profoundly in a state of fear and hysteria ,the man was folding his trembling hands with his eyes wide open,as he looked in horror towards these angles of Death who had descended upon his house that fateful night.It was ensured that none of them was carrying any weapon and then they were made to sit in a corner with their mouth shut.During all this, a field dressing was applied to the head of the dead body of Anwar ,to cover all the mess and ensure that his head remain intact ,his body had to be taken back across the LOC as per the orders.Within few minutes they placed the dead body of Anwar on a body bag they were carrying and were ready to move out.Many villagers had heard the sound of the gunshots leading to noise and commotion in the village,however not a single soul could dare to move toward that house, as they were aware that it was not a wild animal but the devil himself who was on hunt that night and any movement or any interference in the devil's playground would be detrimental to their fate.With the task accomplished, soon the predators set out of the house and melt away in the dense vegetation and darkness of the night ,just like they had arrived.The dead body of Anwar ,as well as the few intel gathered from the spot was carried back.The rifles of the dead terrorists were also taken as a trophy of the hunt.They made their way back to their base through the LOC as per the pre determined exfil routes,the mission was successful and revenge had been served cold.

=========
The End

By daybreak the predators were back at their den.What they had left behind was a trail of destruction and mayhem,the four dead bodies lying in and around the target house were the only mark left behind by them, which signify their wrath which fell upon the Pakistani village that night.Whatever happened that night would surely turn into the folklore of that village ,and will be passed from one generation to the other.If you happen to visit that village and hear the tale of the Devils lurking in night,you better believe it.

The dead body of Anwar was displayed to certain group of people,positioned higher up in the government,now it lies six feet under the ground somewhere inside the Indian territory .The news of his death was revealed to the general public,but the people who were credited and the circumstance and place of his death were altered.The people who carried out the hunt will always remain in the shadows ,only to rise once again , when the blood needs to flow ,to raise a storm and strike the fear into the hearts of our enemies.To deliver fire and fury ,whenever and wherever the Nation Demand.

===========

Photos

1.

2. A special one which tasted blood in 1 cross LoC Raid

3. Deadbody of Anwar his Pakistani ID card

4. LoC terrain where Indian Army stands guard 24/7 and crossed over whenever necessary

(Shatrujeet)

Sent from my Redmi 4A using Tapatalk

A note worthy thing here is how Suppressed weapons don't play a part in SOF SOP. while the cold and thin air and valley would still carry noise not everybody would recognize it as bullets.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Such raids are very common and even done by Ghataks.

In another thread i had reported it but some bhakts trolled my post and said before Modi there were no raids.

They happen almost every year.I wish i could post about one raid conducted by Ghatak in which almost 18 Pakis were killed but due to own casualty because of some reasons i am not going to share as i dont know which reporter picks up the story from here.

Last time in 2012 or 2013 i shared about the beheading done by IA in revenge of own troops and a week later it was published in The hindu...old members from pdf would remember.

Good work by shatrujeet team.
--------------------

@rkhanna is right regarding the team.Such teams exist on a temporary basis to avoid a lot of unwanted situations.

 

[aditya g]

I request you to have a think about it, and share the story in an anonymous way which identifies only time or place, and never tell the unit. It could be as brief as a couple of tweets.

Such raids are very common and even done by Ghataks.

In another thread i had reported it but some bhakts trolled my post and said before Modi there were no raids.

They happen almost every year.I wish i could post about one raid conducted by Ghatak in which almost 18 Pakis were killed but due to own casualty because of some reasons i am not going to share as i dont know which reporter picks up the story from here.

Last time in 2012 or 2013 i shared about the beheading done by IA in revenge of own troops and a week later it was published in The hindu...old members from pdf would remember.

Good work by shatrujeet team.
--------------------

@rkhanna is right regarding the team.Such teams exist on a temporary basis to avoid a lot of unwanted situations.

 

[aditya g]

The Week's coverage is so average. Whats the point of covering a unit at such high level...

Current CO of 10SF - please ID the 2 badges on the pocket flaps?

A pretty long one, but DO read.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Major Vikramaditya, 31, clearly remembers how he first came to hear about para commandos. It was in the summer of 2000, when he and his young friends had gathered at Vikram Park in Udhampur to witness para jumps in the run-up to the Infantry Day celebrations on October 27. “‘Para commandos are deadly. What they do, and who they are, I don’t know. But they can kill a human with their bare hands.’ These were the first words I heard from a classmate at the Army Public School in Udhampur,” says Vikramaditya, who was born in a small village called Chiryai near Udhampur.

The sight of the paratroopers filled the 14-year-old with awe. “I saw men coming down on parachutes, as if they were coming from some other planet, and landing right in front of us,” he says. “They were like men out of a fairy tale. They smiled and waved at the children happily, and it seemed to me that they had bulbs in their eyes.”

Vikramaditya’s father, a geologist, had always told him to follow his heart when choosing a career. That day, on the lawns of Vikram Park, Vikramaditya set his heart on becoming a para commando himself.

Seventeen years later, he is living his dream. He is a member of the 10 Para (SF), an elite unit of special forces commandos who are trained to be masters of battlecraft. They are so skilled in carrying out special ops behind enemy lines that each one of them is a weapon unto himself.

The para commandos are part of the Army’s Parachute Regiment. There are 14 units in the regiment—nine special forces and five para. The para units can airdrop deep into enemy territory and give tangible gains to ground forces. The special forces units can be launched into battle from land, air and water.

Among all the elite forces in the world, the para commandos have earned the reputation of being the toughest. Granted, the Americans and Israelis have better weapons and equipment, but when it comes to grit and valour, the para commandos are unmatched.

They proved it in June 2002, when India was invited for the first time to take part in a gruelling contest of special forces from across the world. “As luck would have it, I was reading the newspaper some days after the event,” recalled Vikramaditya. “I saw a headline: ‘When the going gets tough, India tops.’ It was a story on 10 Para (SF), which had come first in the special forces competition in Africa’s Kalahari Desert, defeating the likes of the Special Air Service of the UK and Green Berets of the US.”

To win accolades, India’s para commandos had to overcome several challenges in the unforgiving Kalahari. At one point, a commando’s parachute apparently failed to open, and his emergency parachute landed him so hard that he broke an ankle. Still, the team went on to win the endurance test. Clearly, it is not for nothing that the para commandos call themselves the Desert Scorpions. They never lose their sting.

The year 10 Para (SF) outshone its British and American counterparts in the Kalahari, Vikramaditya joined the National Defence Academy in Pune. In 2006, after being commissioned as an officer in the Army, he volunteered to join 10 Para (SF) on probation. He was just 22 when his team commander first tasked him with leading an operation—searching for and eliminating terrorists in the higher reaches of Kashmir.

“I look responsible and mature today,” says Vikramaditya, who is tall and well built, with a chiselled face and piercing eyes. “But, back then, I was young and inexperienced, and I had a team to lead. In such situations, one learns that there is only a short distance between life and death…. But, when you spend 10 months in your battalion and two months at your home, there comes a time when there is no distinction between you and the battalion. You become the battalion.”

Vikramaditya has several identities today—he is a son, husband, father and, to fellow troopers, a brother. Like other para commandos, he is referred to by his code name during operations, and has taken part in several successful missions. But, ask him about those missions, and he smiles evasively.

The special forces swear by stealth and secrecy, and their exploits are not acknowledged publicly. An exception was in September 2016, when the para commandos carried out one of the biggest surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border, killing more than a dozen terrorists. A few more silent, swift and deadly operations have since been carried out against the Pak terror apparatus, but none have made news.

THE WEEK spent days with Vikramaditya and his brothers in a desert area in Rajasthan, not too far away from the India-Pakistan border, and found that they had a lot in common with the place they were stationed. They were as raw, rugged and relentless as the landscape that could not be named. Para commandos of other units had also come to join them.

The smell of gunpowder hangs in the dry desert air. For the commandos, it is intoxicating and energising. Every day, they walk the wire between life and death. Part of their uniform is a striking red badge that reads ‘Balidaan’, or martyrdom. Do not be fooled, though. “If the enemy wants to die, we will do the needful,” says Vikramaditya. “At the same time, if we have to lay down our lives, we will not think twice.”

The SF teams operate in squads of six. Each of them master one of five basic skills—demolition, navigation, weapons, communication and providing medical assistance.

Shock and awe: A para commando storms a building during a training session.
​

The basic training for all special forces units is the same. It is only the specialisation that makes them different. “Every man in the battalion is a trained medic and a qualified desert driver,” says Major Shatrujeet, an ace combat free faller and diver. “Free fallers use techniques like HAHO (high altitude high opening) and HALO (high altitude low opening) to jump out of aircraft and drop deep inside enemy territory. The combat divers, on the other hand, launch themselves into war zone using water bodies. They are not just a threat to enemy vessels, but can also cause mayhem on ground.”

A soldier does not get selected straight into the special forces. Instead, officers or jawans belonging to regiments volunteer to join the SF. They undergo a three-month probation, and are free to leave the special forces and return to their parent units.

The volunteers are expected to be daring—like being ready to jump out of an aircraft at 20,000ft. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a couple of them had even jumped straight into battlefield, without undergoing any training. “There is some madness about the men who make it to the special forces,” says Shatrujeet. “These are men who can go beyond what a normal man can do.”

A key part of training is the ‘survival week’, when a probationer learns to live off the land. “Special forces operations are long-duration operations, which can vary from a couple of days to a fortnight or more. There are times when the ration the commandos are carrying may not suffice. In such situations, their survival skills come into play,” says Shatrujeet.

Probationers are left in the wild, where they learn to eat anything that is edible. “Majority of the plants that are found in the jungle are edible,” says Captain Sangram, who has just completed probation. “The plants that are dark in colour, taste bitter or have sap flowing out of them should be avoided. Everything else can be eaten. In the case of animals, one needs to clear its alimentary canal, before eating the rest of it.”

The commandos are trained to handle cobras and vipers. “He is exposed to poisonous snakes, which he has to catch with his bare hands. It helps in overcoming one’s fear. When the same commando has to handle explosives, he knows how to deal with high-pressure situations,” says Sangram.

During the probation period, unit training cells comprising an officer and a few jawans test each volunteer’s physical and mental limits. Major Dhruv, who has been with 10 Para (SF) for eight years, grins while talking about his probation days. “I was asked to run 20 kilometres with 30kg load every day for a week,” he says. “I was also made to crawl in the blazing sun, and sit in a ditch at night keeping vigil. After a week, I was in a state of delirium. I was then asked to give a write-up on assault rifles. When you can’t keep your eyes open or think clearly, how can you write anything? But, that is where your mental strength is tested.”

The probationers are denied even basic amenities. “Your sleep cycle, daily routine and ability to think straight are tested,” says Dhruv. “Often, volunteers give up within hours, or after a few weeks. Those who survive it—two or three in a hundred—get a chance to join the special forces. There have been times when no one was selected.”

Every man has his breaking point. “I suffered a stress fracture in my leg during probation. That was my tipping point,” says Dhruv. According to him, para commandos are trained to think clearly, and yet do unexpected things. “It is only then that the enemy will not be able to anticipate what I am going to do next,” he says.

When asked where he sees himself after some years, Dhruv says, “I did not join SF to become a senior officer one day. I came here out of choice, to be with the best in the business. I don’t think beyond the next firefight and the next hockey game. Anything more than that would be a bonus.”

A tall, barrel-chested man, Dhruv can bench-press double his bodyweight. He practises martial arts and is an expert in handling lethal tools and weapons. “Each skill and every bit of training come in handy when we go for operations,” he says.

On June 25 last year, SF commandos were tasked with eliminating terrorists holed up at the Delhi Public School in Srinagar. “It was a tedious task as it involved a complex building structure with hundreds of rooms,” says Major Shaurya, who has spent three years in the Valley. “The layout of the building was such that natural cover was available to the terrorists. This gave them advantage.” Still, the commandos outmanoeuvred the terrorists and killed two of them after a 14-hour gun battle.

But, outcomes are not always positive. In February 2016, Captain Pawan Kumar and Captain Tushar Mahajan died fighting terrorists holed up in the Entrepreneur Development Institute near Pampore in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The son of a headmaster in a village school in Haryana’s Jind district, Pawan had always dreamt of joining the Army. When he completed class 12, he joined the sought-after maths (honours) course at Ramjas College in Delhi. But, he quit and joined the Army after he received a letter from the Services Selection Board.

After spending a year in the Dogra regiment, he volunteered to join the special forces. After probation, he joined counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir. He was advised to go on medical leave after he was injured in one of the operations. “He requested the doctor not to endorse the leave, and returned to join the team,” recalls Vishal Ahlawat, Pawan’s friend and fellow para commando.

Pawan’s father, Rajbir Singh, 54, spoke to THE WEEK on Army Day (January 15), which is also Pawan’s birthday. “When your own child sacrifices his life for the country, what greater happiness can you get,” he said. “All of us should be ready to make that sacrifice. People die in accidents, too; so why should anyone fear death? God has created human beings to do glorious deeds. That is my message to the youth today.”

Said Dev Raj Gupta, Captain Tushar Mahajan’s father and a renowned physicist: “I am a proud father. It is true he has left us, but someone has to do this job, too. Yes, we miss him.”

Tushar’s mother, Asha Rani, 55, recalled that he used to move around her in circles, teasing her, before kissing her goodbye and leaving the house. “The last time he came to meet us and left home, he did not do that,” she said. “I miss having him around me. He treated me more as a friend than as his mother.” Today, the void left by Tushar is filled by his brother commandos, who seek Asha Rani’s blessings whenever they get a chance. Both Tushar and Pawan were awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

Back in the deserts of Rajasthan, Vikramaditya and his team of para commandos are preparing to leave for “tasks” assigned to them by the commanding officer. They had been discussing plans, and working out details, well into the wee hours.

Wherever he goes, Vikramaditya carries a small backpack containing a water bottle, a small prayer book and a diary gifted by his three-year-old daughter. Some pages in the diary have motivational quotes—“Every day, move ahead from where you are,” reads one. Other pages have to-do lists: “Internet for parents”, “Look for post-retirement avenues for troops”, “Have lunch in team langar today”, and so on.

Vikramaditya explains that the entries in the lists are marked in blue, black and red. The tasks he has completed are ticked blue, those in the works are black, and those yet to be started are marked red. He says he likes his life to be “sorted”. As he folds his diary, puts it back in his bag, and hops on to a bicycle gifted by his wife on his birthday, he looks a lot like a common man going home after a long day’s work.

“Wives of para commandos are special, in the sense that they remain an equal partner in their husband’s life,” he says with a proud smile. “They talk to the ladies and family members of the jawans, and sort out problems when their husbands go for operations. They keep their own fears and insecurities to themselves.”

A bright and bubbly woman, Vikramaditya’a wife is the pillar of strength for the family. “We don’t pass on our fears to children,” she says. “There is as much fun and frolic in our house as in any other home. An occasional call or message from my husband is enough reassurance.”

She then smiles and shares a secret: “Even on WhatsApp, I tell him, ‘Chitthi likhte rehna [Keep writing to me].’ That’s how I sign off.”

The hour has come for Vikramaditya to leave. He has covered his face using a green shemagh, leaving only his eyes visible. He has left his bicycle in the barracks, and is out in the bone-chilling cold of the desert. It is pitch dark and silent, and I am reminded of what he had said once: “If you talk or whisper, each word that you speak will be heard by the enemy. This is what is so different about deserts. It carries each sound.”

He climbs into a rugged jeep that will soon take him to the edge of Indian territory. There, he would become invisible, but vulnerable to the elements and the enemy. In a way, however, he would be at home.

It was about men like Vikramaditya that Bernard Law Montgomery, the legendary field marshal, once said, “What manner of men are these who wear the maroon beret? Men apart, every man an emperor.”

Names of serving men have been changed.

~ http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/india-para-commandos.html

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

I request you to have a think about it, and share the story in an anonymous way which identifies only time or place, and never tell the unit. It could be as brief as a couple of tweets.

Very briefly!

Post Kargil conflict Indian military was not in a mood for truce.Atlantique incident was only a part of the many things the Indian military did.

The Army Hq and the Northern Command gave the order for a raid on enemy position which was a complex of few bunkers.

The unit CO was informed and he picked out a team of around 20 men approximately to carry out the raid.This was a regular infantry battalion.

The training or the preparation was carried out for almost 6 weeks.Everyday rehearsals and drills were done to make sure own blood is not spilled.

On the day the team crossed over to LOC as the last light went away.They attacked at the right time and close to 18 pakis were killed.

The team started returning when someone from the team had a not so great idea..resulted in a big casualty which could have been avoided.

18 Pakis and 1 Indian died that day!

I had a radio(FM wala) with me those days and heard the Pakis saying India violated ceasefire and killed 2 troops but we retaliated and killed 3 or 4...since then i know never to trust them.

 

[mayfair]

"Killing more than a dozen terrorists????"

 

[mayfair]

I had a radio(FM wala) with me those days and heard the Pakis saying India violated ceasefire and killed 2 troops but we retaliated and killed 3 or 4...since then i know never to trust them.

Wow, you were quite late to the party...

Folks who had the pleasure of listening to Radio Jhoothistan in 1965 and 1971 came to the realisation long long ago.

Elders tell me that the broadcasts would be hilarious...