OPERATION BANGLADESH
The Indian Army played a significant role in liberating Bangladesh, but the covert operations of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) at the time remain buried in secret archives of the agency. Two top spies—R N Kao and K Sankaran Nair—played a major role, supported by the political establishment, in cultivating assets to form a guerrilla unit. Kao recruited thousands of refugees in March 1971 to penetrate the Pak army and civil authorities as a diversionary tactic while the Indian Army readied for the final assault. They were trained by RAW and Indian paramilitary forces and named Mukti Bahini. Under Kao’s guidance, a provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed in exile on April 14, 1971, in Calcutta and the name of the Capital was given as Mujib Nagar. A radio station, Free Bengal Betar Kendra, was established to instigate the East Pakistan population. Another guerrilla outfit, Kader Bahini, led by Abdul Kader Siddique, was also trained by RAW.
WARNING ON MUJIB KILLING
Days before Mujib’s assassination on August 15, 1975, RAW Chief R N Kao received Intelligence input about a revolt by some army officers. Kao personally met Mujib and briefed him. Mujib’s reaction was to laugh and say, “They are my children. Would they attack me, a father figure?” Had the RAW input been taken seriously, Mujib would have survived.
OPERATION MEGHDOOT
Highly classified RAW reports in 1983 warned that Pakistan was planning to capture Saltoro Ridge in Siachen as part of Operation Ababeel. An Indian offensive, Operation Meghdoot, was launched in the treacherous terrain barely 40 hours before the Pakistanis could push their Burzil force to capture the strategic peak.
RESIDENT AGENT KAUSHIK
Ravindra Kaushik alias Nabi Ahmed, who joined RAW in 1975, was the first “resident agent” to be educated in Pakistan and who later joined the Pakistan army as an officer. Kaushik provided crucial details to Indian agencies, helping thwart several covert Pak operations. His cover was blown in September 1983, after RAW sent Inyat Masiha, an agent, to activate Kaushik.
TERROR BEATEN BACK
Hours before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s rally at Shere-e-Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar on November 17, 2004, an army platoon engaged two militants near Shankaracharya Mountains overlooking the venue. The PM’s speech was rescheduled and started only after the terrorists were neutralised.