by David Singh
? This was an absolutely illegal encounter. The man, being hunted, was running for his life. Samarjeet decided to save him. Samarjeet had
seen the quarry coming scrambling out of the jungle desperately leaping towards the hut dodging bullets and also one of the hunters waiting for him right behind the hut with his back towards Samarjeet. He already had his silenced Glock out. He had left the jute bag in the shrubbery hastily covering it underneath dry leaves and crept his way into the rivulet. Water level was hardly three-four inches. He lied down on his back in the middle of the running water his abdomen barely exposed to sun, stretched his hands and took the aim. In such position, the hunter – thirty five meters away - looked overturned with his feet up and head down. Samarjeet took the first shot. With a muffled spit, bullet entered the right side of hunter's back and exited off his chest. The hunter slumped to the ground. Samarjeet saw, before hurriedly leaving his position and creeping behind a huge stone in the middle of the river, that the quarry had shot the wounded man dead with his handgun and entered the hut ruins.
Another hunter emerged slowly from behind the tree trunk. He was cautiously moving forward on his bent knees in a sitting stance. Naxalites? Then Samarjeet noticed the telltale cropped hair and the stance of a trained man of force. The policemen? Strange.
'Malwanker!' He heard the hunter yell the warning, 'surrender and come with us. Commandant wants to talk to you.'
So both the parties belong to the same group. No Naxalites.
In response to his proposal, the second hunter had his head blown off.
?
Through the dilapidated, rotting structure Malwanker could see the second hunter. He heard what the man had said; a ridiculous attempt of making him come out and surrender. Malwanker sweared in contempt, took the aim and blew his head off. Three remaining now, waiting patiently in their positions in three different directions. He calculated quickly recalling the direction if his ally's shot.
His ally must be in the eastern side behind the huge stones in the rivulet. One hunter is in the west side behind the dense tree line in front of him. The other two must be positioned anywhere north and south or east and south. He was in the centre. There was just one way to find their position: lure them into taking a shot at him. He took a deep breath, reconsidered his strategy and took stiff steps out in the back of the hut ruins keeping the ruins as his cover. The other three sure had no idea that he had an ally out there now. That was one element in his favour. He held the rifle tightly in both the hands, assumed a sprinter's stance and, like mad, bolted in a random zigzag pattern towards the rivulet across thirty meters of clear ground, keeping his upper half of the body almost parallel to the ground and knees bent at almost forty degrees. The posture slowed down his pace but made it very difficult to take a shot at him from a long distance and in rapidly falling darkness. Instantly, several shots leapt at him from three different directions. Probably the darkening background had made the clear shot difficult for the hunters. Then his body jerked violently. Losing his momentum and balance, Malwanker skewered on his feet with a loud shriek and fell heavily on his right shoulder with a faint thump, his body devoid of any movement.
?
Slowly they emerged out of their hidings. First, the man in the far tree line, in front, came out. He walked towards quarry's still body with steady steps, rifle unwavered. The other two followed suit. One came walking in the same fashion and posture from the far south and the third came out from the far eastern side of the rivulet from behind the stones. While walking towards the quarry and his fellow men he crossed the rivulet, splashing water with his boots, oblivious to the fact that he overlooked Samarjeet hiding behind the stone just three feet away, almost right below his nose.
All the three surrounded Malwanker's still body. One, in front, had his face in Samarjeet's direction and the other two had their backs towards him.
'No blood. Just check if he is feigning death.' One, in front: the leader, commanded. The other suggested. 'Just stuff a few more shots into him. All drama will be over.'
If the quarry was alive, they were going to kill him in cold blood however they were in control of the situation to arrest him. This is not law enforcement. This is murder. Situation demands shoot to kill. Inflicting wounds would be useless.
Targets: three. Distance: twenty meters. Target size: pretty small – the heads. Weather: clear. Air: still.
Samarjeet gripped Glock in both the hands, took the right stance, rested his elbows on the stone and took the front one's head in the sight. He squeezed the trigger. Glock recoiled with a muffled 'phut' and bullet entered the forehead of the target. Even before the dead man could hit the ground Samarjeet turned Glock's barrel two degrees right and took his next successful shot. The last one, remaining, looked frantically on either side for cover. Finding himself out in open, he pulled his rifle up to open fire in Samarjeet's direction. But he couldn't. The shot into the back of his skull from Malwanker's hand gun killed him instantly.
? 'Death loves the gallant in a strange way. It haunts them often but gives them chances to get away at the same time.' Malwanker said, smiling despite the pain, rising up slowly, pressing his wound in the shoulder with his good hand to suppress the bleeding. A bullet had really been successful in reaching him.
Samarjeet offered his hand to help him get up. He did. As trained, Samarjeet kept quiet giving chance to the other person speak.
'You saved my life today, man.' Malwanker said, trying to ignore the pain. 'The way you did it, I believe, you must be anyone but a tribal.'
'We must look at your wound first. Let's go in hiding before anyone attracted by shots comes around and sees us.' Samarjeet said and turned to walk forward.
Malwanker followed and asked, 'you wounded one and killed two of them. Perfect aim. Right side of the chest. Heads. From such a distance! Accurate, unseen and swift! This cannot be the traditional combat training. You don't seem to be CRPF, CoBRA, CAF, BSF, ITBP. Who are you?'
'Names are not important.' Samarjeet said. 'Why were they killing their own man?'
They reached the dense foliage where Samarjeet had his jute bag hidden.
'How do you know they were my men?'
'I heard them calling you by surname. People in the same group do that. Then they offered you to surrender to some Commandant.' 'Yes. This was their third attempt. If I were alone today I would be lying dead there. You have saved the enemy of the state my friend.' Samarjeet retrieved the medicine from the jute bag and tended to Malwanker's wounds.
'Pretty lucky. Just a flesh wound. This bandage will fix it in twenty four hours.' Samarjeet said, finishing the bandage around his wound.
'Your jute bag is a Commando Survival Kit. You are a soldier. Para Commando? Maroon beret?'
'Yeah.' Samarjeet kept the illusion on, 'why did I have to kill two policemen to save you? Who are you in Naxal disguise? Undercover cop? Then why this attempt on your life by your own men?'
'I am Milind Malwanker. Assistant Commandant, CRAF,' Malwanker said looking straight into Samarjeet's eyes, 'you wouldn't believe what I'll tell you.'
?
'Where have you been? I have sent some of my men to search for you. We heard the shots from distance.' Raju's tone seemed worried yet had a touch of indifference.
Samarjeet had returned after two hours. Since it was dark now it seemed natural that Raju was worried.
'Just witnessed an encounter between some Naxals and police. All are dead.'
'Who? Policemen?' 'No, Naxals.' Samarjeet lied, 'Naxals were completely outnumbered, just five against ten. . Thank God! I was out of sight.'
'What have you seen around?'
'GPS track route setup took more time than I had expected.' Samarjeet lied again, cunningly circumventing Raju's question. 'This whole trek has made me tired like hell.'
'You can have some rest. We don't have any agenda today except keeping ourselves away from the sight of policemen and naxal troops patrolling randomly. Like you saw, they
run into each other often and shooting begins, killing both the sides with collateral damage – as they call it – of innocent tribals in villages.'
'Fine. I'll catch some sleep then.' Samarjeet said and moved to a hut sensing Raju's strange stare at his back.
He lied down on the bare earthen floor but there was something that stole his sleep away. He was thinking about his brief and hurried conversation with Malwanker:
This war is not new. Since 1950 when, by law, State became the caretaker of the forests – the home of these tribals - these poor people have become unwelcomed strangers in their own lands. The tiny spark of Bengai Jote, Naxalbari, West Bengal 1967 has become a menacing conflagration today.
Government has signed more than hundred agreements with several corporate houses to loot this area.
Special Economic Zones – a bull shit way to give massive land to corporate in dirt cheap rates and exploit the simple tribals.
Denied of their right to live even by bare means of natural produce. Shooed away from their land in the name of development – mining projects, dams, construction.
The Forest Department doesn't allow them to pick forest produce.
Women resort for prostitution. Men turn to petty crimes in neighbouring towns.
Where should they go?
Enter Maoism. Naxals. People's War Group sensitised tribals to demand for updated price for the jungle produce they sell in local markets. The markets are controlled by contractors, brokers and rich land owners. With great difficulty PWG succeeded in winning hearts of the people.
They are fighting for equal rights, for survival, for their culture to keep it from being trampled upon. This is not a war of State versus Naxals. This is the story of struggle for survival by tribals against the nexus of greedy corporate houses and corrupt ruling classes equipped with all means to prove PWG the greatest threat against democracy.
When they oppose, armed forces handle them. Burn their huts. Rape their women. Shoot the surrendered men point blank.
It's a vicious circle now. Soldier! You and I have been thrown into a war where we are fighting from Devil's side.
Restlessness was unbearable.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
January 17, 2014
Dandakaranya, Chhattisgarh
4:30 AM. The unbearable restlessness and demanding urge to
meet Malwanker again made Samarjeet rise early. Jungle was in full bloom of its beauty. Birds had left their nests in search of worms and seemed to chat their strategy together during the process. Entire ecology was in action. Jungle never rests.
'What if Naxals catch you unawares out there or you run into some police troop?' Raju asked Samarjeet in his usual passive tone.
Samarjeet replied, 'they can't see me until I wish.'
'Chandan, go with him.' Raju, unconvinced, commanded Chandan.
Chandan stood up.
'Don't bother. I really need to explore around alone to accustom.' Raju stood up. 'Soldier. We know this place far better than you
do. It's my advice that you do as I say for your own safety.' 'I know my job and I know how to keep safe my friend. Now that GPS trackers are in place there is nothing to worry about. See you in a while. Good day.' Samarjeet replied, turned and left a little pissed off Raju, staring at his back, unblinking.
About a mile deep inside the dense foliage, he met Malwanker at a preset rendezvous. 'So, now Bhanu Majumdar has completely accepted you as a native Naxal?' Samarjeet asked.
'Bhanu doesn't know me directly. I have been sent by his trusted man Raghav to organize Khadaan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti (Anti Mining Protest Group) against Hashima mines by uniting the tribals scattered here. This area still needs my exploration.'
'Where are you putting up?' 'You see that cluster of hills behind which Hashima mining site is there? One of the caves there. Not an easy access.'
'Who are Majumdar's core group members?'
'I don't know. The closest I have reached is Raghav's group. I haven't had any chance beyond that. But why are you interested in Majumdar and what's your purpose here?'
'I thought I was asking the questions first.'
'Oh sure, carry on.'
'You said, you had asked your people thrice to bail you out of here.
Why didn't you just leave?'
'Once a Naxalite here, you can only move freely towards inside
the forest but if they find someone moving towards outside or in the
direction of the cities they ask questions. No convincing answer and
you are assumed to be a police informer. And, while walking out, I
need to carry the evidence with me. Finding that on my person they
will kill me instantly. '
'Why do they want you dead? Your people, I mean.'
'Now I guess, I was given the go ahead for this mission just
because they were convinced that I would die here but, not only I
survived, I found evidence that this place is cursed to have been rich in
minerals and natural resources. Businesses and ruling classes are eyeing this area like hawks and vultures. If this place was not so difficult to access you would have seen a concrete jungle here in the name of SEZ, rural development and employability enhancement. The evidence I have, will rock Rajeshwar Karma's government. His puppet CM Jagat Lal Verma and state government will collapse. I had sent first set of those evidences to my Commandant but now, I know, he and his men are in this with government. They want to crush any
obstacle that threatens their agenda of loot.'
The climb began. They slowed down their pace to conserve the
stamina.
'Any news on Rajanna?'
'Rajanna is the one I am looking for. He is the one who needs to
be captured. Problem is, no one has his real picture being the part of
PWG earlier. Now he runs his own faction PGA which is a group of
men thirsty for blood. People are scared of him. I came here for
Majumdar. He has also killed many and his right place is behind bars
but his violence is either retaliatory or defensive but Rajanna plans to
kill by choosing his targets on police and other armed forces and poor
tribals are caught in crossfire. I had moved in here undercover
believing that Majumdar was behind Maheshwar Karma's
assassination. He wasn't. It was Rajanna who did it. Media has no
inkling about this fact. Majumdar is the real revolutionary, however
violent, but Rajanna seems to have his own covert agenda. He seems to
have harboured the ambition in his heart to rule this area. He and
Majumdar are now more of rivals than two different ideologists.' Samarjeet fell silent in deep thought. Expression of sheer
puzzlement shrouded his face.
'That is the way.' Malwanker pointed towards the dense foliage
ahead, 'we will go through this and reach the cave.'
They crossed through the foliage. The cave could not be seen at a glance. There was a huge rock in front. Malwanker moved around it and disappeared. But his voice could be heard, 'step only on the
stones. Do not leave marks on ground or grass.'
Samarjeet couldn't suppress a knowing smile and followed.
Behind the rock was an opening to walk straight in. Inside, the place
was a clean, rough stony interior of the hill. It was cooler than outside.
Malwanker pushed a rock in the corner to reveal a neatly dug pit in the
ground where all his paraphernalia was secured. He took out a
corrugated wooden box, opened it and retrieved a small digital tablet.
He switched it on and gave it to Samarjeet. 'My locket has an auto
shoot camera. This tab has the collection of pics I have taken so far.' For next few minutes Malwanker showed him the pictures of
Raghav and his men, corpses of assassins killed by Malwanker, naxals,
/> tribals villagers and Bhanu Majumdar.'
'Seems educated, this, Majumdar.'
'Former civil engineer. He has taught these primitive people the
boon of irrigation, best practices of agriculture, understanding market
economy and has made them aware of their rights and empowered
them to fight for them.' Malwanker sounded like Majumdar's
canvasser. 'I don't approve of the killings he did, that's why I want to
have him captured alive.'
'We will.'
'Did you say, we?'
'Yeah Milind. I think, now is the time I should tell you why I am
here.'
?
CHAPTER TWENTY
January 18, 2014
Mission HQ, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
'So he knows what we are up to.' Vir Bhadra Singh spoke in a calm
tone.
'Just that. Not the details. He knows Raju is helping us but not
about his whereabouts. I haven't told him our field plan and also how
many of us are executing it. Only thing he knows about a commando
mission to capture Majumdar.'
The Business Room of Hotel VW Canyon on VIP road was
converted into the war room. All the people concerned with security,
comms and logistics were given special access and hotel had arranged
for a dedicated team of admin, hospitality and technicians for them.
One phone call from high up somewhere had made the things moving
rapidly and efficiently. Vir Bhadra Singh's word was law on the
premises.
Having setup the GPS guiding path for movement during the
mission, Samarjeet had transmitted the message for his extraction. He
had taken Raju's leave and told Malwanker that he can easily bail him
out of there. Malwanker told him that he still had a lot of intelligence
gathering to do so he would stay put. They picked Samarjeet up from a
preset rendezvous through a helicopter and brought him to the
Mission Headquarter at Raipur.
'Technically speaking Samar, we have no connection and concern
with any of the traditional forces out there but as you have told the