by David Singh
'Many times, since I have met you all, I tell myself that I really understand what you tell me about yourself.' Malwanker smiled.
'Don't worry yourself.' Samarjeet said, 'just remember that we are close friends now.'
'If we are close friends then why this bottle is still filled more than half?' Malwanker pointed at Johnny Walker Black Label on the table.
Vir Bhadra Singh got up and grabbed the bottle. 'I will take care of this, Milind! Open another for these children.' Vir Bhadra Singh seriously took the bottle and went out to the balcony, making every one laugh heartily on this gesture.
Samarjeet joined Vir Bhadra Singh.
'I knew, you will come.' Vir Bhadra Singh said, looking at him. 'Throughout I've noticed, you are not yourself. You are preoccupied. Something is keeping you.'
'Yeah VB.' Samarjeet replied in a thoughtful tone, 'my instinct is poking me constantly. Something is not right. Time and again this thought is pestering me that entire thing doesn't look the way it actually is.'
'What do you mean?'
'I'll tell you but there is something I need your help in.'
'Tell me.'
'Can you arrange that Malwanker becomes the part of the inquiry team. He remains a witness to everything that happens now in the name of investigation and enquiry.'
'Part of the team?' Vir Bhadra Singh raised his bottle, gulped a mouthful, sounded a gratifying slurp and said, 'Malwanker will be heading one of the teams, don't worry. That has already been arranged.'
'VB, is there any way I can accompany Malwanker?'
Vir Bhadra Singh gave him a stare and said, 'what are you up to?'
'My sixth sense is saying that these peace talks will never begin.'
Vir Bhadra Singh set down Johnny Walker on the balustrade.
Samarjeet spoke his concern finally. 'If my reasoning and fears materialise into reality, Majumdar is in danger.'
'What the hell are you……ssaala, saraa nashaa utar gaya (bloody, all intoxication has evaporated).'
'There are two points. One, RK connived with Rajanna and leveraged on our plan to get rid of Majumdar to take control of Abujhmad area. Majumdar's foresightedness and cunning spoiled his plan. He also tried to eliminate Malwanker and evidence collected by him that proves Majumdar's innocence. Malwanker's sheer luck spoiled that too. Now there is the other point which my instinct is suggesting me.'
Vir Bhadra Singh's nonverbal stare prompted him to carry on, 'did you notice how quickly and smoothly CM has invited Majumdar for peace talks? The kind of VIP treatment Majumdar is being given. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if CM offers Majumdar to join his party and represent his people in Abujhmad.'
After a long brooding, Vir Bhadra Singh spoke. 'That's natural. Abujhmad is their area. They need a candidate to represent it. Who could be better than Majumdar? But if I trust your instinct, how could Majumdar be in danger?'
'Let me explain you.'
?
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
May 10, 2014
Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Today was the first day of the history in making. Peace Talks were shifting into gears today with the first session to be commenced at 10 am.
Entire VIP guest house had been converted into a military camp. Bhanu Majumdar and Raghav were staying on the first floor of the building. Security was up, right from the main cross roads beyond the street corner till Majumdar's room. The extent and gravity of security could be assessed from the fact that even the janitors and housekeeping were security personnel. Regular staff had been sent off until the end of talk sessions. One of the house keeping staff was Sathya who had access right in to the room occupied by Majumdar and Raghav. But Samarjeet was least expecting the threat there. Mohan had joined as the lowly watchman who could freely look around the premises to spot any unauthorized intrusion. Gangwar was one of the electricians on the premises – a good cover to look for explosive threats.
Malwanker was in the main office of Guest House with a team of two policemen to accompany Majumdar till CM Office and wait on him till the talk session was over. Finally, they were supposed to escort Majumdar back to the guest house. This was going to be the daily routine during all the sessions of peace talk. Malwanker had handpicked the policemen himself. Only he knew that one of them was Samarjeet behind fake beard, moustache, photo chromatic specs and hooded peak cap. They had checked the car which was going to drive Majumdar and Raghav to the CM office.
Elite 5 had never bothered about Vir Bhadra Singh's resourcefulness. He only knew, how he managed to sit in the control room of the guest house, no questions asked. He was carrying his gun too. No one knew that gun was actually unmarked and could not be traced to anyone in the world.
CM's office was two blocks away from the VIP guest house and entire road was cordoned off from unauthorized access during the peace talk sessions. Makker had swept the area around with his binocular more than hundred times and could discover nothing suspicious that could look like a threat. Entire Elite 5 was wearing concealed radios. From outsiders, only Malwanker was on their frequency. Majumdar was aware of Vir Bhadra Singh's presence only.
Makker looked at the watch. 1015 hours. He spoke into the radio, 'all clear here. Nothing seems amiss. There are four vantage points for a sniper to sit including mine but it doesn't seem possible for a sniper to shoot someone inside the car. I pass the entire area as clean.'
'All clear from my end.' Sathya's voice came over.
'Mine too.' Mohan joined in.
'All clear.' Gangwar added.
Malwanker spoke on his and Samarjeet's behalf. 'All clear here. We have checked the car too. We are about to move now.'
? The Ambassador car designated to carry Majumdar and Raghav to CMO was to be escorted by two more, keeping Ambassador in the middle. The escort was to be enveloped further by a leading and trailing police bike.
Vir Bhadra Singh, other security officers, Malwanker and Samarjeet in disguise of his associate came down to the marquee of the guest house. It was almost time for Majumdar to move. Shimmering white Ambassador drifted into the marquee and stopped below the verandah shade. Security officers gave one last cursory look to the car. Samarjeet took a casual walk around the car and found nothing suspecting. Then he looked at the registration number plate again and came to Malwanker.
'Milind,' he whispered, 'look at the number plate.'
'What?'
'It is actually not the plate but numbers are pasted on car's body.' 'What do you mean?' Malwanker came round behind the car and
checked.
'The car we were shown earlier had number plate fixed over by
nut bolts. Milind, this is the same model and make but a different car.
We need to check it again.'
Malwanker sounded the alert and car went down another
thorough check under metal detectors and bomb scanners. They found the bomb sewn inside the cushion of the back seat. ?
'And what about our people dada?' Raghav asked taken aback by
surprise.
'Raghav…Raghav.' Majumdar explained, 'these tribals have been
happy several hundred years back too but I am not saying that I
haven't cared for them. We have fought for several decades for what?
To play hide-n-seek lifelong with armed forces? I have the plans for
development of our area. Roads will be paved and irrigation facilities will be arranged for. In fact, I have a huge plan of settling down all the tribals in that area in one township where they will live like respectable
citizens like other people do.'
Majumdar and Raghav were asked to stay put inside their room
until further clearance. Majumdar was quite shaken with the
discovery of the bomb.
'And then we shall have the resort and film studio erected in the
land available.' Ragahav spoke softly.
'Exactly, and Hashima mines will continue as usual along with
several paper manufacturing units too. Imagine the revenue earned
from the mineral! But…but… our tribals will not be working as
labourers for them. They will live in the townships with their own
agricultural life along with all the facilities: water, school, houses…..' 'What about us?'
'What about us? Raghav! You are asking this? We will now enjoy
the reward of our struggle. The days of running for life like dogs are
over. Being the leaders we deserve the lion's share of the reward. Now
is the time to claim a real life. Freedom. Comfort. And, above all,
power in real sense.'
'To achieve this you really have shown your remarkable
farsightedness dada. Right from the beginning you have been in touch
with CM Verma. You not only finished your rival Rajanna but also
helped Verma remove RK. Excellent dada. What a vision!' 'Yes Raghav. To win this war I had to shake hands with the devil. I
didn't know that RK had connived with armed forces to send in his
undercover duplicate. Things had really gone out of control but again,
instead of losing control, I meticulously managed the situation. Soon
we will control our cadres in Andhra, Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, Orissa
and West Bengal. Today we have touched just a small milestone: the
peace talks.'
'Peace talks?' Raghav spit the words, 'with the same CM who has
conspired to blow us away out of his way? Can't you see that he is the
puppet master who has removed everyone: RK, Rajanna, our people
and now us?'
Majumdar's eyes suddenly caught a spark of rage and his face
contorted in a shrewd smile. 'Our luck is soaring high Raghav. With
his foolish and failed effort to blow us away, now Verma is in my grip.
Only I know that he is the culprit. My testimony alone can nail him
down. Now, I will turn these peace talks completely in our favour.' 'You conniving, shrewd backstabber!' suddenly Raghav's tone
caught a sharp edge of wrath. In an effort of controlling himself he
began trembling. Tears rimmed his eyes. He spoke from behind his
clenched teeth, fuming under his breath, 'you betrayed all of us. At
least Rajanna was in open but you have stabbed in our back, you
bastard!'
Majumdar's eyes widened with shock and disbelief. Raghav
pulled out the country made pistol from beneath his clothing. Being
the secured ones, no one had bothered to check them for any weapons.
Shock turned into terror in Majumdar's eyes.
'Raghav brother, don't get me wrong. I….'
'No Bhanu.' Raghav hissed, voice spiked more with pain than
anger, 'I got you wrong so far… not now. I don't know what will
become of me but I am sending you where you will face all those
people who died,' before finishing he pulled the trigger, 'trusting you.' Majumdar ducked in one side but he was too slow to veer away
from the lethal bullet.
?
Malwanker, his other associate Vasan and Samarjeet were
standing in the corridor, outside Majumdar's room. Sathya and
Mohan were hovering at the end of the corridor near the stairs. 'Vasan.' Malwanker said, 'you just ensure that this area is
thoroughly swept once again. I don't want to take any chances. When Vasan left, Malwanker said. 'Samar, your intuition was
right indeed.'
'First, we need to keep this bomb thing quite hush-hush.'
Samarjeet replied, 'word should not go out…..'
The deafening bang cut Samarjeet short. For a moment they both
stood stunned before the reality struck. The duo leapt towards
Majumdar's room. Sathya and Mohan, anticipating required secrecy,
closed the door between the stairs and the corridor. Majumdar's
room's door was not locked. They rushed in and the scene in front
brought up all their horrors alive.
Majumdar was lying on the floor, his chest turning red with his
own blood gushing out of the bullet wound in the neck. Raghav was
standing over his head with a country made pistol in his hand, tears
rolling down his cheek – tears not of regret but of pain, of suffering
and a lot of hatred.
They all were dumb struck. Malwanker pulled out his handgun. 'This man…..this man….' Raghav cried, seething with hatred,
'sold his own people, their hopes, their dreams…. This is how it feels
to be betrayed by someone you trusted with your life.' He threw the
pistol on the floor.
'Raghav….my brother….Malwanker!....' They all looked at the
dying and crying Majumdar.
Malwanker covered Raghav with his gun. Samarjeet sat down
beside Majumdar who spurted a trail of blood from his mouth and
stuttered. 'I…..I want to correct my fault……Raghav…..Raghav…..'
He almost cried. Raghav sat down looking at him.
'Justice and truth prevails at the end……Raghav…Raghav is the only hope for the people out there in the jungle…..' the dying man looked into Samarjeet's eyes. Samarjeet saw a trace of recognition in his eyes, 'soldier!…..don't let them fail….don't…..I…..I want to
record my statement….I want to tell the truth……now…now…' Malwanker took out his mobile phone and began the videoshoot.
?
'We have to move fast.' Samarjeet had taken his decision, 'Milind,
you pick up that glass vase from the table and crash it here.' Malwanker looked at him quizzically.
'Milind, you saw Majumdar committing suicide and threw
this vase at him to save him but vase only changed the target: instead of
his forehead, bullet entered the neck.' Samarjeet replied. Then he
addressed Mohan, 'you write a crisp suicide note that justifies
Majumdar's statement. No one knows Majumdar's handwriting
here.'
Finally he turned towards Raghav. 'Clean that pistol and put it in
Majumdar's hands….…'
Raghav implored, 'saheb. Everything is destroyed. We have been
betrayed. Please leave us poor people alone….please….'
Samarjeet got up, rushed over to Raghav in one long stride and
shook him by his collars. Without releasing his grip he looked straight
into Raghav's eyes and chewed every word, 'your people and Venkat
and Balu counted on Majumdar and you. Countless people have died
having faith in you. When leaders fail, Raghav! Someone has to take
over. If there is any right time to serve your people that is now. Go to
jail and fail this revolution and disappoint your people or take the
responsibility to lead them to a better life. Make your decision now.
And it better be right.'
He released a completely shaken Raghav's collar but didn't break
the eye contact.
?
'I am proud of you, son, for what you did.'
'I wasn't alone in this VB.'
'I mean the people of Abujhmad.'
Samarjeet frowned in puzzlement.
'But still, it was too much of a risk with Mohan's handwriting….' '….how do you know that VB?'
'I am your handler Samar. I knew since first glance at the letter.
It's been accepted on the face value but don't worry; I will see that
enquiry doesn't go that deep.'
Samar nodded gratefully.
'I know Samar,' Vir Bhadra Singh tried to smile, 'how you hate
people who scare others, driving them off their homeland, who snatch
from innocents ruthlessly what's not t
heirs, who kill like cowards.'
The old man sighed and shook his head. 'I know son, what they did to
your father, how Rahim Khan sacrificed his life to save your mother
and grandfather. How your mother…well that's in remote past…. but
in future, focus should be the mission only. Right?'
Vir Bhadra Singh smile amiably.
The Retriever - Major Samarjeet Sapru, son of a Kashmiri Pundit
and Rajput mother, returned a faint smile.
'Anyway, you made me a proud old man, Retriever!'
Retriever's faint smile turned into a wide grin.
?
EPILOGUE
Bhanu Majumdar's dying statement sky-rocketed the TRPs of all the news channels. His “suicide note” and dying statement as testimony against CM Jagat Lal Verma was strong enough an evidence for the Special Investigation Team to recommend ten years rigorous imprisonment for Jagat Lal Verma. However, the bomb planted to kill Majumdar was never traced to Verma or anyone.
Both Rajanna and RK were slapped with sentence for life. Investigation team managed to find three unshakeable witnesses against Commandant Shetty. These were the policemen who had refused to go after Malwanker in the jungle on Shetty's command and were eventually suspended by him on pretext of false charges. Shetty joined Rajanna and RK in Tihar prison for six years.
Hashima mines' investigation resulted in the confiscation of several call records and papers showing Rajeshwar Karma being the silent partner with Ramdas as the front man. Hashima mines was sealed down for never to be opened again.
In the national elections, opposition party claimed a sweeping victory countrywide. Opposition chief Nirmal Chandrakar won the undisputed public mandate to take over as new CM of the state. After assuming his deserving position the first thing Chandrakar did was to invite Raghav to recommence the peace talks. No one has any idea about Pissu's whereabouts.