This was the period when my release from service had come through and I was getting ready for civilian life , with no idea where to go and what to do . I was in Sena bhavan trying to register with DGR for jobs having done a course in industrial security . 2/n
I was within 2 kms of parliament when it was attacked and still remember the news being played out on the radio of the shop where I stopped to grab a sandwich after all the running around , which many ex servicemen will easily relate to 3/n
In a few months , I would be an ex serviceman . The thought would often cross my mind but the decision was made and I was on my way out ! The heart therefore was heavy while I was busy conducting my last few heading a two helicopter dett . In Srinagar 4/n
Flights in my favorite bird the Mi-171vs was heavy I was trying to soak as much of Kashmir where I spent 6 long years navigating the mountains would soon fade into a memory. I would be out in the rough and tumble of the civilian world of which I had no idea at that point 5/n
The future was uncertain . I was saying my good byes at Srinagar. Few friends had organized weekend brunch . We all sat and chatted at Srinagar officers mess . Some of the conversation was of a unit move to a forward location . Having spent most of my career 6/n
In J&K , the young officers had few questions about the route to take towards poonch, Rajauri area . They had been told to mobilize at short notice a radar unit of more than 100 odd men . We all went our separate ways . I finished my last task in the valley and was eager 7/n
To go back to my home base which was Jammu . The afternoon as we were getting ready to depart for Jammu , a message was received from Srinagar ATC to return to our parking spot as the AOC (Air Officer Commanding ) is coming to meet me . A moment of quiet anticipation passed 8/n
When a senior officer wants to meet you , .. I quickly ran through the events of the past few days . Hope I had not made any mistakes .! We shutdown and waited for AOC . Who arrived and looked in significant worry ! He called me to his gypsy spread out a quarter inch map 9/n
He drew a circle that was easily about 15-20 kms. He said he had lost contact with the unit that moved to the forward area and the unit set course to a cordinate very near to the LOC near Poonch sector . It was almost 100 men . He feared for the worst 10/n
As the last message received from the unit was that the school compound they set up camp and radar had suspicious movements through the night . Some AirForce guards spotted armed militants circling near the camp at night with weapons .The area he showed me was a treacherous 11/n
With no army unit in the vicinity . In the hurry to deploy the unit was not carrying enough weapons to even decently defend themselves to survive a second night . Most probably the previous night was a reccee carried out by militants in all probability planning to strike 12/n
As me and the AOC spoke , a large truck full of weapons mostly assault rifles , grenades and basically whatever Srinagar airbase could spare . It was all loaded on the helicopter. We quickly refueled . I asked the captain of the second helicopter to join me in the mission 13/n
I wanted someone with good map reading skills and trusted him as I had trained him before . A quick assessment was carried out . The AOC jumped in with us into the helicopter stating he wanted o meet his boys out in the field 14/n
My mind was where to look for this minuscule radar unit that would be camouflaged in any case deployed near the LOC . Almost like looking for a needle in a haystack as the probably area given to me was about 10 nm radius .15/n
There was no time to really think and plan . All weapons loaded we started the helicopter and were airborne from Srinagar . Me and Rags kept playing all the probable routes these men would’ve taken .i suddenly remembered telling the young officers to route via Riasi 16/n
Just on an absolute hunch , I decided to follow the road from banihal to punch .The likely route they must’ve taken . I told the co pilot and the AOC not to leave sight of the road as it waxed , waned and weaved through the mountain . My eyes was scanning the skyline 17/n
Frantically , for any military structure . Back of kind I knew that we were in deep militant infested terrain and could get a few bullets coming at us anytime . There was no army unit to be seen . As my heart started to sink as we were approaching fuel minimums to get back 18/n
As I did a turn , I caught a glimpse of what looked like a radar antenna . We headed that way for a closer look and when we did the low pass tree top level , I saw some men on IAF fatigues run out waving 19/n
The joy of spoiling our men soon evaporated on me at the thought that there was no landing spot to fit in a 12 ton helicopter in the vicinty as it was full of trees . I looked at the AOC and Co pilot . I found a spot next to the road where the main part of the helicopter 20/n
Could fit in .Most of the helicopter would hang out onto the road .With the tail rotor spinning over the road . Managed to land . I saw smile on the officers and men .Not sure ,if I spotted a grateful tear , for we had given those men a chance to defend themselves that night 21/n
We flew back . As we passed Vaishnodevi on the way back to Srinagar , I bowed my head in silent prayer for those 100+ men as they should get through that night till re enforcements arrived . Shared this story today as it is birthday of the lead officer of that contingent . 22/n
My witness to that landing from the ground .. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
@Navanalyst1 !!! Love you brother . Wish you a long and healthy life . Jai Hind 🇮🇳🙏😊
