AGENT: CHAPTER 2

Note: This story is a sequel to the spy-thriller story Agent: Chapter 1 revealing the past life of Visvajith and the aftermath of events happened in his life.

ONE YEAR LATER:

10 JANUARY 2014:

GOA, MAHARASHTRA:

Along with his now wife Raghavarshini and one year old daughter Anshika, Visvajith is living in Goa, Maharashtra. He is receiving treatment with the help of a famous psychologist Doctor Pulkit Surana. Pulkit have helped Visvajith to remember his name and now, he have been keeping him under counseling.

Now, Pulkit slowly went near to the face of Visvajith and asked him: “Visvajith. Now, do you remember your past life and profession?”

Visvajith says: “Yes. I am able to recollect about my past life.”

FEW YEARS BACK:

1990:

I hail from Srinagar of Kashmir valley. In the early 1990, my grandfather Rajendran Singh took me to New Delhi along with rest of Hindus by arranging a van. During the period of 1990, the insurgency was being led by a group calling for a secular and independent Kashmir, but there were also growing Islamist factions envisioning an Islamic state. Our Pandits, who believed that Kashmir’s culture was tied to India’s experienced fear and panic set off by targeted killings of some high profile officials among their ranks and public calls for independence among the insurgents.

PRESENT:

“What’s the problem in Kashmir?” asked Pulkit Surana to which Visvajith recalls few more incidents that happened in his life.

1975: INDIRA-SHEIKH ACORD:

Under the 1975 Indira-Sheikh Accord, Sheikh Abdullah agreed to measures previously undertaken by the central government in Jammu and Kashmir to integrate the state into India. Farukh Ibrahim, a sociologist at the University of Kashmir, states that it was met with hostility among the people of Kashmir and laid the groundwork for the future insurgency. Those opposed to the accords included Jamaal-e-Islami Kashmir, People’s League in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front based in Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Around this time, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence tried to spread Wahhabism in place of Sufism to foster religious unity within their nation and the communalization aided their cause. Islamization of Kashmir began in the 1980’s when Sheikh Abdullah’s government changed the names of about 300 places to Islamic names.

1980- FIVE YEARS LATER:

The ISI’s initial attempts to sow widespread unrest in Kashmir against the Indian administration were largely unsuccessful until the late 1980’s. During this period of time, there was a running feud between Soviet Union and Afghanistan due to the Cold War. Hence, the American and Pakistani-backed Afghan Mujahideen’s armed struggle against the Soviet Union in the war. The Islamic Revolution in Iran and the Sikh insurgency in Indian Punjab against the Indian government became sources of inspiration for large numbers of Kashmiri Muslim youth. There were lots of political issues and problems during the period of 1980-1984 period of time.

In February 1986, Shah on his return to Kashmir valley incited the Kashmiri Muslims by saying, “Islam is in danger.” As a result, this lead to the 1986 Kashmir riots where Kashmiri Hindus were targeted by the Kashmiri Muslims.

PRESENT:

“What caused the 1990 Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits?” asked Pulkit Surana.

14 SEPTEMBER 1989:

On 14 September 1989, Tika Lal Taploo, who was a lawyer and a BJP member, was murdered by the JKLF in his home in Srinagar. On 4 November, a judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, was shot dead near the Srinagar High Court. He had sentenced Kashmiri separatist Maqbool Bhat to death in 1968.

One year later, there were threatening calls to Hindus to leave Kashmir immediately. Walls were posted with posters with threatening messages to all Kashmiris to strictly follow Islamic rules, which included abidance by the Islamic dress code, a prohibition on alcohol, cinemas and video parlors and strict restrictions on women. Unknown masked men with Kalashnikovs forced people to reset their time to Pakistan Standard Time. Offices, buildings, shops and establishments were colored green as a sign of Islamic rule. Shops, Factories, Temples and homes of Kashmiri Hindus were burned or destroyed. Threatening posters were posted on doors of Hindus asking them to leave Kashmir immediately.

21 JANUARY 1990- 25 JANUARY 1990:

On 21 January, two days after Jagmohan took over as governor, the Gawkadal massacre took place in Srinagar, in which the Indian security forces had opened fire on protesters, leading to the death of at least 50 people, and likely over 100. These events led to chaos. Lawlessness took over the valley and the crowd with slogans and guns started roaming around the streets. News of violent incidents kept coming and many of the Hindus who survived the night saved their lives by travelling out of the valley.

On 25 January, the Rawalpora shooting incident took place, wherein four Indian Air Force personnel, Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna, Corporal D.B.Singh, Corporal Uday Shankar and Airman Azad Ahmad were killed and 10 other IAF personal were injured, while they were waiting at Rawalpora bus stand for their vehicle to pick them up in the morning. The Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police post located nearby with 7 armed constables and one head constable did not react Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, with its leader Yasin Malik in particular, were allegedly involved in the killings. Incidents like these further expedited the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir.

On 2 February 1990 Satish Tikoo, a young Hindu social worker was murdered near his own house in Habba Kadal, Srinagar. On 13 February, Lassa Kaul, Station Director of Srinagar Doordarshan was shot dead. On 29 April my father Sarwanand Pandit, a veteran Kashniri poet was gruesomely murdered.

PRESENT:

Raghavarshini, who had been sitting in the bed and listening had tears in her eyes. While Visvajith, who had been still in the counseling, tells to Pulkit in further: “On June 4 my mother(a Kashmiri Hindu Teacher) Anusha Tickoo was gang raped by terrorists. While she was still alive, they mercilessly ripped her abdomen and chopped her body into two pieces with a saw machine right in front of my grandfather’s eyes. The whole Kashmir was like the Island of blood. Only difference is, we have to go as a refugee in our own country. While, people from Srilanka during the time of Civil War went to other countries as a refugee. Many Kashmiri Pandit women were kidnapped and murdered, throughout the time of exodus.”

Pulkit wiped off his tears and he asked Visvajith, “How did you join RAW Agency? You said, you are hailing from Kashmir! What happened?”

Visvajith closes his eyes deeper and recalls the incidents aftermath of Kashmiri Pandit exodus.

2010:

During 2010’s, Visvajith was a student of Political Science in Sri Ram College of Arts and Science at New Delhi. He was also actively participating in National Cadet Corps under Army wing, where he gets trained vigorously. Since the childhood days, his grandfather and fellow Hindus said about their pains, sufferings and underwhelming emotions because of Kashmiri Muslims. We are there in Kashmir for 1000’s of years.

The then ruling party Indian National Congress didn’t even pay heed to the request of my grandfather to revoke Article 370 and Special constitution. Additionally, they transferred the property of Hindus to Muslims after charging them an electricity fee. This even more fueled up the anger of Visvajith. Following the death of his grandfather, Visvajith joined Research and Analysis Wing under Operation Milestone. There, Colonel Ram Mohan is his chief officer.

Under his assistance, he learned the languages of German, Russian, Arabic, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. After trained mentally and physically, Visvajith is ready to accomplish Operation Milestone. His main objective is to trap Muhammad Ameer, the leader of a Pakistan-based terrorist organization.

Ameer have brainwashed Indian Muslims and Pakistan Muslims in the name of religion and owns more than 500 camps at Mithankot to train the terrorists. They repeatedly plays the audio clip to the young Muslim boys by saying: “All Hindus are religious-spirited. They doesn’t respect other religion.” With these, they are able to bring them to revolution and does terrorist activities.

It was like this they trained terrorists for 2008 Mumbai attacks at Mithankot, with the help of Pakistan Government and Pakistan Army. As Muhammad Ameer’s atrocities increased due to the 2008 Mumbai Attacks, RAW formed Operation Milestone to bring down Muhammad Ameer. Since Visvajith was leaner and stronger, Ram Mohan selected him for this mission.

Changing his looks and completely transforming himself by changing his name as Muhammad Abdul (an youth Islam) from Baltistan, Visvajith shifted to Mithankot, where he collects various information related to terrorists for five years despite getting trained by the terrorists. The same time, Rohit Singh was contesting for the upcoming election in India by approaching people.

To win the election, he have funded Ameer to stage a riots and unpleasant situation at New Delhi. As per the plans, they decided to rape, murder and torture children and people to death during the 2013 period. This shocked Visvajith to the core. Informing this to the RAW Agent, he remains in Mithankot for few more years.

Visvajith encounters various challenges in his mission. Some of his RAW Agents are exposed to the terrorists. The agents were tortured mercilessly after which, the terrorists kill them. But, not easier. Cutting their fingers, legs and the chest. Another worst thing is, he have to witness the death of his own Kashmiri people. He deeply regrets thinking, “How Muslims are brainwashed and made as a ruthless and merciless terrorists, thus spoiling their whole life.”

At this point of time, Visvajith further comes to know about the money and funds details of Muhammad Ameer. The funds are coming from India. Actually, politicians and journalists are sending their black money(From Tamil Nadu to the whole India) to Ameer so that, it could be safer and secured. And only, he could be able to protect their black money.

FEW YEARS LATER,

THE BLACK SEA, UKRAINE:

2013:

Few years later during the period of 2013, Muhammad Ameer and Minister Rohit Singh meets each other at the Black Sea in Ukraine. Visvajith also have followed them secretly in a ship. After finding out their ship, Visvajith entered inside.

“Salaam Abdul” said Muhammad Ameer, showing his hands to which Visvajith said: “Salaam Ameer Bhai. Today is your last day.” He holds him in gun point.

“Abdul. What are you doing?” asked Rohit Singh to which Visvajith said: “My name is not Abdul. My name is Visvajith Sarwanand Pandit. 2005 RAW Batch. I had been sent to observe you and your anti-national activities, you bloody traitors! Today is your last day.”

Visvajith fights off Rohit Singh’s guards and additionally kills Ameer’s henchman. However, Ameer shoots Visvajith two times with the help of Kalashnikov. Despite getting injured, he holds Rohit Singh at gun point and tries to kill him. But, as he saw few children kept as a hostage, he spares them and plunges into the sea waters thinking about the future of Kashmir.

PRESENT:

“Someone have saved me in Ukraine. After leaving from that place, I met Raghavarshini. And there were various attacks held against me by several people. At one point of time, I came to the attention of Ram Mohan, whom I warned to stay away after failing to remember my past life. Now, I remember about my past life.” Visvajith opens up his eyes and asked Pulkit to remove the wires from his body.

As he removed, Visvajith gets up and wears his slippers. Since he opened up the door, Pulkit asked him: “Where are you going Visvajith?”

“I am on duty as an agent, Pulkit. Now, I am going to face Muhammad Ameer directly to free Kashmir at once and for all.” As Pulkit tried to console him, Visvajith reveals to him the aftermath of Hindu exodus.

1991:

In response to the exodus, the organization Panun Kashmir was formed. In late 1991, the organization adopted the Margdarshan Resolution, which stated the need for a separate Union Territory in Kashmir division, Panun Kashmir. Panun Kashmir would serve as a homeland for Kashmiri Hindus and would resettle the displaced Kashmir Pandits.

The militancy in Kashmir had increased after the exodus. The militants had targeted the properties of Kashmiri Hindus after their exodus in 2009 Oregon Legislative assembly passed a resolution to recognize 14 September 2007, as Martyrs day to acknowledge ethnic cleansing and campaigns of terror inflicted on non-Muslim minorities of Jammu and Kashmir by militants seeking to establish an Islamic state.

PRESENT:

“Kashmiri Hindus continue to fight for their return to the valley and many of them live as refugees. The exiled community had hoped to return after the situation improved. Most have not done so because the situation in the Valley remains unstable and they fear a risk to their lives. Most of them lost their properties after the exodus and many are unable to go back and sell them. Their status as displaced people has adversely harmed them in the realm of education. Many Hindu families could not afford to send their children to well regarded public schools. Furthermore, many Hindus faced institutional discrimination by predominantly Muslim state bureaucrats. As a result of the inadequate ad hoc schools and colleges formed in the refugee camps, it became harder for Hindu children to access education. They suffered in higher education as well, as they could not claim admission in PG colleges of Jammu university, while getting admitted in the institutes of Kashmir valley was out of question. The Indian Government has taken up the issue of education of the displaced students from Kashmir, and helped them get admissions in various Kendriya Vidyalayas and major educational institutions & universities across the country. In 2010, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir noted that 808 Hindus families, comprising 3,445 people, were still living in the Valley and that financial and other incentives put in place to encourage others to return there had been unsuccessful. According to a Jammu and Kashmir government report, 219 members of the Hindus community out of total 1400 Hindus, had been killed in the region between 1989 and 2004 but none thereafter. If this is left, the problems would continue, I say Pulkit.”

Pulkit realizes the seriousness of Kashmir issue. He lets him go to continue his mission by telling: “I have helped many people to recollect their past. But for the first time in my career, I have helped a soldier to remember his main objective. All the very best, Visvajith.”

Visvajith runs towards RAW and gets to know that Ram Mohan have been killed as per the orders of RAW Agent director. The information was itself, said by the RAW Agent director. Hearing this, Visvajith laughed to the core.

“Salaam Irfan Malik.” Hearing this, RAW Agent director gets up and he is extremely shocked.

“Wondering how do I know this information? When I was working undercover in Mithankot, I got a list of terrorists, who had been sent as a spy to observe the political status of India and their plans to eliminate terrorism. Among them, there was your photo too. Irfan Malik, you are now exposed to the public!”

However, Irfan Malik laughed and said, “I have fake passport ID card. I additionally have Indian citizenship. You can’t do anything against me Visvajith.” However, Visvajith says: “Milestone is always watching you Irfan.”

The officers, who had been hearing this from outside enters inside the room and arrests Irfan. As he is inside the prison, Visvajith said: “You thought Operation Milestone was stopped. But, it was not Irfan. Do you know? I already remember my past, when Ram Mohan sir said about Ameer. I discussed with Aravinth Singh about bringing down the mole of terrorists down. As per the plan, I came to Moscow. While, you have said to drop Milestone project. Additionally I learned with Aravinth’s help that, you are informing to Ameer about the political affairs and status of Indian Army for years. So, I reached Goa with plans to trap you as well as Rohit Singh and Muhammad Ameer. Now, you are under arrest.”

Indian Army now arrests Rohit Singh also in the charges of doing terrorism and anti-national activities, associating with the terrorists of Pakistan. While, Air force and Indian Army force goes inside the camp of Ameer’s in Mithankot, where they eliminates all the terrorists. In addition to this, Indian Army kills Ameer at his residence.

Hearing the news of Ameer’s death, Visvajith feels peaceful. However, Irfan said: “Don’t be too glad Visvajith. Problem of Kashmir will continue even after the death of Ameer. There is one more person whom you have to take down to retrieve Kashmir into your country.” Unveiling the other terrorist’s name as Ibrahim Ahmed, Irfan slits his throat by grabbing the knife of a constable.

FIVE DAYS LATER:

Five days later, Visvajith meets Raghavarshini and his one-year old daughter Anshika at Ladakh, from where they goes in their Mahindra SUV 300 car. When going, Raghavarshini asked: “Is the mission complete Visvajith?”

Wearing his sun glasses, Visvajith smiled and said: “An agent is always on duty, Raghavarshini.” He drives the car towards Jammu and Kashmir, which he is reaching after 24 years.

EPILOGUE:

Mission Continues. Agent: Chapter 3. On November 2022/ December 2022. This would be the final installment in the Agent trilogy.