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It was around 2000 Hours, The unit adjutant Captain Sushil after having sent the SITREP ( Situation Report) to the Brigade HQ and briefing the Subedar Adjutant(SA) about the routine patrols that were to be sent at night, was planning to wind up for the day.

As he picked up his Bag, he heard some noise outside the room.

Ram Ram Sahib!, the office runner came in and saluted smartly clicking his boots.

Hmm, Ram Ram , kya huya yaar ab! . Capt Sushil asked annoyingly while looking for his note book. Its been almost a year plus that he had spent in Srilanka without availing any leave. Being an adjutant of a unit involved in the thick of action against LTTE , He was 24 x7 on duty , last night also he could not have a proper sleep as militants had fired upon a unit patrol in which the unit suffered a casualty and so almost half the night was spent coordinating the evacuation and reporting to the queries of brigade staff. Today, he had thought to relax a bit and had planned to return to his tent early but winding up itself took more than hour.

Sahib, STF sey Company commander aaye hain.

The Srilankan army had created a task force called STF(Srilankan Task Force) to deal with Tamil militancy in its North East Region. After the IPKF was inducted this task force was restricted to its camps. However they still had some intelligence network and at times passed on the information to IPKF units, which was mostly generic in nature, hence most of the times useless.

Haan Bhejdo unko, replied Sushil irritatingly. He knew that this gentleman must have come with an useless information but he will have to still act on it because this man is surely going to inform the Commanding officer as well as the Brigade HQ also, who will in turn ask him, whether he has acted on the information or not.

Maj Senanaykey was a heavily built man , with good amount of fat around his girth and had a round chubby face. It was difficult to make out that he was a soldier if he was not wearing a military uniform.

Welcome! Major, Sushil greeted him warmly hiding his irritation.

He also asked the office runner to arrange for tea, as the duo settled down in the office.

Yes, tell me Major what information have you got today? Sushil straight came to the point , he was in no mood to waste his time , sharing pleasantries.

Almost, on all previous occasions whenever the Srilankan Major shared information Capt Sushil got a mouth full from the company commanders. Because, they had to spend whole night in jungles and paddy fields without any result. Afterall, Its now been more than a year and the initial zeal of Fighting was gradually receding. While combating militancy, one has to be prepared for a long haul as it tires out the troops and if they are not employed sensibly, it may lead to avoidable weariness and unnecessary casualties. This responsibility lied with the company commanders that their men were used sensibly so that they do not wear out and become casual. Most of the Company Commanders by now had developed their own effective intelligence network which was more worthwhile and actionable than the one they received from Unit HQ.

Captain, I have a very important and 100% sure information. There was grave urgency in the Major’s tone.

OK !, Sushil still sounded indifferent.

Captain, 5-6 LTTE man are in VILLAGE Ayithamalai . They are still there. The STF Maj spoke in hush tone as if the walls also have ears and this information could reach the LTTE.

This village is barely 4 kms from Battalion HQ,! Sushil expressed his surprise raising his eyebrows.

How can they be so close, that too so many of them ? He wondered.

Yes, there was some family function at Karuna’s home that’s why he has come with his 6 Body guards .

OK! How sure you are? He asked knowing fully well that Major’s answer as always would be ; 100% sure.

100% Captain. Replied the Srilankan Major expectedly.

Your 100% is very dangerous Major , Sushil replied laughing.

No..No this time I am rather 200 % sure, they are there.

Ok, from 100% now you are at 200%, so I will have to act now. Capt Sushil smiled raising his eyebrows.

Oh ! yes. The Major nodded his head vigorously .

So I need to act fast before they slip out. Sushil replied getting up from his chair and extending his hand to thank him for the information..

As the Srilankan Maj left his room, the young Lieutinant Udayan darted into the Adjutant’s room , as if he was just waiting outside for the Major to leave.

Sir, I will go for this. He announced determinedly.

Where? Sushil asked casually while shoving the note book that was buried under the files into his bag.

Sir, Ayithamalai where six LTTE militants are there.

You know, you are not supposed to be eaves dropping on any ones conversation. Its bad etiquettes. Sushil admonished him for listening to his conversation with Maj Senanayakey.

Sir I was not eaves dropping , I was going to the mess when I saw the Srilankan Maj walking towards the Office area so I just followed him, then I saw him entering your office, so I stood here and could over hear your discussion.

You are not supposed be doing this either. Its bad manners. Sushil spoke rolling his fingers over his big moustache.

Sorry sir, please but let me go.

Lt Udayan had joined the unit a month ago after his training at IMA and had just finished his induction training . Although the induction training was very essential to get oriented with the operational environment in Srilanka, but for someone raw, that was not enough. The CO had therefore not allowed Udayan to lead a team for any search and destroy operation. He had only been doing perimeter patrolling, which basically entailed going around the Unit HQ at night.

OK let me speak to the CO, I do not guarantee that.

However, get ready and ask the Subedar Adjutant to get 15 men ready.

Sir 15 will be more, 10 is ok, a big team loses surprise.

I am aware of that, but do as I tell you. Sushil replied curtly and walked towards CO’s tent.

It would be better to send him on this mission as he will get some experience as such the information is likely to be damp squib. Secondly, if I ask the Delta company commander to send his team , I will get a mouthful and if they do not find the LTTE militants than it would be much worse. Last time, I had already got enough bulshit from the Delta company commander. Capt Sushil murmured to himself.

After having spent a few minutes discussing with CO he came out and was taken by surprise as he saw Udayan standing outside , with His automatic rifle on the right shoulder looking at him curiously.

Bloody idiot I told you a few minutes ago NO Eaves dropping. You don’t understand this.

No sir, I did not hear anything, I am standing 100 ft away from CO’s tent. I heard nothing. Can I go sir, he asked pleadingly.

Yes, Are the boys ready?

Yes sir, all are ready. Udayan pointed towards a tree barely 20 feet away where his team was ready to move.

Great, have you briefed them and checked their weapons?

Yes sir ! . Udayan replied assuringly. There is One Radio set ANPRC 25, One LMG, One Rifle Grenade , One two inch mortar and all men are carrying ON WEAPON scale ammunition. EVERYONE KNOWS the village and the route to it. They have been there many times in last one year. I have already been on perimeter patrol with these boys umpteen times now and know each one of them by name. I will be able to handle this, believe me sir. Udayan was buoyant and unstoppable. He probably did not want to give any chance to the adjutant to snatch this opportunity of leading a mission.

Ok. Ok ! All the Best. Captain Sushil patted him gleefully, impressed by Lt Udayan’s passion.

Udayan was delighted, finally his turn had come to lead an operation after an agonizing wait of one month.

As the 15 men walked out of the unit HQ gate the sentry lifted the barrier and warmly greeted Udayan JAI HIND SAHAB ! 

Jai Hind! Udayan reciprocated proudly, His voice now had a peculiar zing in it and his gait had a sense of pride.

He was now carrying the proud legacy of Indian army on his shoulders for which he was trained at NDA and IMA.

 He confidently walked in front, leading the column of 15 men, in single file. The Radio operator Naik Albert was behind him and Hav Roop Singh right at the end of the column.

 As they hit the dirt track leading to the village Ayithamala, he started walking slowly so that the marching column does not make any sound which may alert the militants and more importantly the Dogs. He knew from his experience in IMA that the FS( Field service) pack contents make lot of noise which at night can be heard from a long distance.

After walking for three kilometers plus he could now see the silhouette of the village huts. It was a small village surrounded by paddy fields. It had 50-60 hutments, all scattered over an area of 500 m by 500 m.

Udayan stopped, his team immediately took firing positions on both sides of the track to cover entire 360 degrees.

There are no tell tale signs of any family function here , all appears to be quite, its pointless entering the village because the Dogs will announce our arrival and with huts scattered all over, the militants will escape easily using darkness…Udayan contemplated. They will surely not be staying in the village whole night , as they must be aware that this place is so close to IPKF camp. So, that means they will be leaving to night itself. …if they are there. But, what if they get out from the other direction. I do not have enough men to deploy to cover the other directions. Udayan contemplated

Let me then lay an ambush along side this track. There is not much time to take decision, if they have to leave , they would just be doing that. He mumbled looking at his watch . it was now 2200 hours.

As he was still looking around for a suitable high ground to deploy his troops and lay a proper tactical ambush, as was taught to him at IMA, the radio operator Naik Albert standing alongside him who had already spent ALMOST one year operating in srilanka, tapped on his shoulders and whispered , “ sahib aawaz aa rahi hai kisi key aane ki”.

Udayan now focused more on his hearing ability instead of looking for an ambush site and could now hear the sound.

There was now hardly any time to deploy his men properly, the sound was barely 400-500m away from him and there was hardly any dominating ground available, not even a foot above the track and his men were also scattered to cover 360 degrees on both sides of the road However, they were all trained soldiers, hearing the sound all of them crawled to one side where Hav Roop Singh was and got into suitable firing positions to cover the track.

Udayan also quickly got into a firing position alongside the dirt track.

Suddenly he realized that It was hardly an appropriate firing position because all his men were lying in open alongside the track, not even an inch above it . If he allows militants to come close and if they are able to detect his team we may suffer heavy casualties. Tactically we should have been on a ground which was dominating the track. He mumbled. But what can I do now ?, he looked around desperately.

Before he could think of an answer he saw 5 men barely 15 feet from him. Udayan with lightening speed jumped and stood right in the middle of the track with his automatic rifle pointing at those approaching five men, index finger at the Trigger and with a firm voice said ; HANDS UP, Its IPKF !.

And then all hell broke loose, the automatic rifles from both sides opened up. It was 5:1, 5 AKs of LTTE militants and one his, as None of his men could fire because Udayan was blocking their view, had they fired Udayan would have surely got a shot on his back side.

The fire fight stopped within few seconds. Uadayan was numb and could barely move, The sound of bullets zipping past his head was still ringing in ears. He stood still.

His radio operator ran towards him ..sahab aap theek ho.

Haan lagta to hai mujhe nahin lagi, he touched his, chest, abdomen and legs. Udayan muttered without looking at Albert.

He quickly, regained control over his emotions and walked up towards the militants lying dead on the track.

Mean while all his men came rushing, they were still under shock as things happened at such a rapid pace that it was not easy to come to terms . All the action ended in a few seconds.

The five militants lay dead in a pool of blood.

Hav Roop Singh touched the wrist of each of them and pronounced ; “ sahib sab mar gaye”. He too sounded baffled.

, Udayan still gazing at the five bodies on the ground moved his fingers over his short curly hair and murmured -

SAALA MEY PHIR KAISEY BACH GAYA ,.

Sahab, mey batayoon…har goli pey likha hota hai marney waaley ka naam, apke naam ki goli in key paas nahin thii .

Roop Singh !, Udayan patted on his back. Naam ka to pata nahin, par In saaalon ka Nishaana achaa nahin tha.

Welcome Udayan to the great Indian army, you have been baptized now, and you will live long. Udayan mumbled.

And turned back towards the radio operator to answer the call of Capt Sushil who after hearing the gun shots was calling him frantically and directed Roop Singh confidently “ In ko uthaaney ka Bandobast karo”.