Tackling Terrorism --HITESHWAR SAIKIA STYLE

Tackling Terrorism --HITESHWAR SAIKIA STYLE

May 28 2008 | Views 1377 | Comments (15) | Report Abuse

Tags: ks brar operation rhino old diary operation bajrang hiteshwar saikia

A TRIBUTE TO MASTER

POLITICIAN OF MODERN ASSAM

I was just burning my old papers today when I found an old diary with these remarks:

“We are too close to history to say if the confusion in the interregnum period i.e 15 January 92 to March 92, was part of a well chalked out strategy of ULFA. May be they were sincere in the beginning (for Peace Talks!) but were influenced by other extraneous factors to do the volte-face!(backing out from the talks!) May be they were trading for time to re-group and reorganise to work out a more vitalized strategy. These issues will get explained only once the events unfold further and real motives emerge”

This entry was made on 31 March 92 when ‘Operation Rhino’ against ULFA MILITANTS was re-launched on the likely failure of talks between Militants and the Central Government. The suspension of operations by army was done on 15 january at the behest of then Chief Minister(CM) of Assam. I must confess the CM was right as he had achieved his aim of splitting ULFA and weakened it. (I had played a vital role in these scheme of things and we had managed to create SULFA). And I have great regards for this master politician of Assam—who was down to earth man—he knew the pulse of his people and he used this knowledge to discredit ULFA—which till date remains a crippled organisation.

Mr. Hiteswar Saikia was the Chief minister. He was a man of vision and I had a very close interaction with him as I was looking after JORHAT and SIBSAGAR districts of Assam. Many a times I had one to one talks with him on certain issues. When my unit was being moved out of Assam in July 1992, he vehmently protested to then Army commander, Lt Gen KS Brar, and had the orders cancelled at midnight by a special directive to me on telephone personally by the army commander. I had a very good rapport with CM, Mr VVP Rao, DC of Jorhat and Mr, VP Gupta, Ex police ADC of Hiteshwar Saikia when he was governor of Meghalya and later SSP of Jorhat. I have many tales to tell of those interactions and experiences with civil set up. Let me begin with the first incident which explains the difference of thinking by a military man and a seasoned administrator cum able politician. I have not seen his kind thereafter. I will narrate an incident which establishes his firm resolve to deliver a knock out blow to ULFA. He had really delivered a death punch to ULFA of those days—which made our job very easy later. Let me begin with a small backgrounder.

Assenbly Elections had been held in Assam on 19-20 Jun 91 despite a boycot call by ULFA. There was tension in Assam because of this. But elections were held peacefully under the aegis of para military forces. Fair, they were. Rigged, they were not. And when the election results began to pour in by 25-26 Jun 91, it exploded many myths of SELF ASSUMED CONTROL OF ASSAM by ULFA. It shocked ULFA and forced it into another blunder, which as the events will tell, would prove more disastrous and catastrophic for it. The very army it had wanted off its back since ‘Operation Bajrang’, it had invited through this blunder. ULFA leadership had failed to realize that the government this time had a legitimate mandate of the people. It, the government, could be pushed to the wall but can not be made to submit. This gross ignorance led it on a road to disaster. In a state of frustration and disgust, ULFA struck in a lightening but well planned move on 01 July 91, when it kidnapped 14 ONGC and civil officials from all over Assam. Thus, began the hostage crisis, which not only alienated ULFA from its already eroded mass base but also crippled it for future efficacy. ULFA had failed to realize that it had to deal with ‘Master Politician’ of Assam of modern times, Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, who was heading the State Government.

. No doubt kidnapping incident had sent shock waves in the government circles. But the man at the top of the helms of affairs of the government, was least ruffled. Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, known for his unfathomed patience and cool headedness, saw a golden opportunity in this to cut ULFA down to size by allowing it to rejoice initially. On the other hand, inebriated by its initial success of kidnapping, ULFA, then, decided to blackmail the government. It told the government that the release of the hostages was subject to the release of TADA detainees. As an apparent good-will gesture the government decided to release a few TADA détainees to cool down the public anguish over the issue. But there was a grand design beneath this apparent move. Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia had chalked out his strategy well and decided to exploit this incident in favour of the government. One could not but admire him for his deft handling of the issue. He used this crisis to turn the public against ULFA. His strategy was to prolong the crisis and make hostages a liability for ULFA. He best expressed his philosophy at Sibsagar in the last week of October 1991, when a journalist quizzed him on the steps taken by the government to secure the safe return of the hostages. He said, “I am worried about the safety and security of the 2.2 Crores people of Assam than six hostages”.

He was a master politician-cum-administrator and a negotiator at his best. Outwardly soft spoken and presenting a false façade of a physically frail man, he was of iron-will and steeled mind. One was lucky to have known him from close quarters. In fact, he was the person who guided me to plan my strategy of not to go for an operation to rescue the hostages. It was on 01 October 91 at Jorhat circuit house, where I first met him personally. What happened was that we had got first major gain of ‘Operation Rhino’ in the form of the capture of Jorhat district commander of ULFA, Mr. Nikun Dutta alias Ranju Sarma. He was a ruthless killer and biggest extortionist cum kidnapper of ULFA of those days. Mr Hiteshwar Saikia had come to see the cache and the catch. In my talk with him there, I disclosed that we had definite information on two of the nine hostages being kept in my area. And boastfully, I told him “Sir, within two to three days we will rescue them”. He turned grim and questioned me, “Do you assure 100 percent safety of these two poor hostages? What happens if ULFA kills them and passes on the blame to you. Do you know its consequences? All good work done by you so far will suddenly become a nightmare to you. You must know that ULFA wants you to do this to get rid of them. You will be just falling into their trap”. I was startled. I had not thought about the consequences of the failure of our mission. I told him, “ Sir, I assure you 80% chance of success”. He was not impressed. He remarked,“ 20 percent elements of doubt are still there. Do not go for it unless you are 100 percent sure. Turn this information into your favour. Keep chasing them. Hunt them out every day and night. Make hostage a liability for ULFA. Do not give them an excuse to kill them. Do not worry. Hostages will be released one day”. What a man of vision he was! Uncannily I felt that he was going to use hostage crisis as a weapon to make ULFA helpless. By the time, ULFA realized his grand strategy, it was too late, he had sullied the ROBBINHOOD image of ULFA, created so painstakingly. They had to release the Hostages in December 1991 because they had become a clear cut liability for ULFA. I can clearly vouch for the correctness of his strategy.

Late Mr Beant Singh, ex-Chief Minister of Punjab, 1991-1994, learnt this art from him and he too determinedly turned the tables on Punjab militants by his firm handling. Beant singh gave unconditional support to, now called SuperCop, KPS Gill and the result is known to whole world. The same Super Cop had failed miserably in his earlier stint as DGP of Punjab Police when there was Governor rule in Punjab. J&K , today, is crying for a la-Saikia or a la-Beant. This is what is not happening in J&K. I know it as I have handled militancy in all three states of Assam, Punjab and J&K, besides Nagaland and Manipur. If Hiteshwar Saikia and Beant Singh were alive for few more years, the militancy would have been totally wiped out from these two states. Mr Gulam Nabi Azad and Mr. Mufti Mohammed Sayyed are incapable of such decisions—so J&K burns and Pakistan gets an upper hand.

A TRIBUTE TO MASTER POLITICIAN OF MODERN ASSAM

I was just burning my old papers today when I found an old diary with these remarks:

“We are too close to history to say if the confusion in the interregnum period i.e 15 January 92 to March 92, was part of a well chalked out strategy of ULFA. May be they were sincere in the beginning (for Peace Talks!) but were influenced by other extraneous factors to do the volte-face!(backing out from the talks!) May be they were trading for time to re-group and reorganise to work out a more vitalized strategy. These issues will get explained only once the events unfold further and real motives emerge”

This entry was made on 31 March 92 when ‘Operation Rhino’ against ULFA MILITANTS was re-launched on the likely failure of talks between Militants and the Central Government. The suspension of operations by army was done on 15 january at the behest of then Chief Minister(CM) of Assam. I must confess the CM was right as he had achieved his aim of splitting ULFA and weakened it. (I had played a vital role in these scheme of things and we had managed to create SULFA). And I have great regards for this master politician of Assam—who was down to earth man—he knew the pulse of his people and he used this knowledge to discredit ULFA—which till date remains a crippled organisation.

Mr. Hiteswar Saikia was the Chief minister. He was a man of vision and I had a very close interaction with him as I was looking after JORHAT and SIBSAGAR districts of Assam. Many a times I had one to one talks with him on certain issues. When my unit was being moved out of Assam in July 1992, he vehmently protested to then Army commander, Lt Gen KS Brar, and had the orders cancelled at midnight by a special directive to me on telephone personally by the army commander. I had a very good rapport with CM, Mr VVP Rao, DC of Jorhat and Mr, VP Gupta, Ex police ADC of Hiteshwar Saikia when he was governor of Meghalya and later SSP of Jorhat. I have many tales to tell of those interactions and experiences with civil set up. Let me begin with the first incident which explains the difference of thinking by a military man and a seasoned administrator cum able politician. I have not seen his kind thereafter. I will narrate an incident which establishes his firm resolve to deliver a knock out blow to ULFA. He had really delivered a death punch to ULFA of those days—which made our job very easy later. Let me begin with a small backgrounder.

Assenbly Elections had been held in Assam on 19-20 Jun 91 despite a boycot call by ULFA. There was tension in Assam because of this. But elections were held peacefully under the aegis of para military forces. Fair, they were. Rigged, they were not. And when the election results began to pour in by 25-26 Jun 91, it exploded many myths of SELF ASSUMED CONTROL OF ASSAM by ULFA. It shocked ULFA and forced it into another blunder, which as the events will tell, would prove more disastrous and catastrophic for it. The very army it had wanted off its back since ‘Operation Bajrang’, it had invited through this blunder. ULFA leadership had failed to realize that the government this time had a legitimate mandate of the people. It, the government, could be pushed to the wall but can not be made to submit. This gross ignorance led it on a road to disaster. In a state of frustration and disgust, ULFA struck in a lightening but well planned move on 01 July 91, when it kidnapped 14 ONGC and civil officials from all over Assam. Thus, began the hostage crisis, which not only alienated ULFA from its already eroded mass base but also crippled it for future efficacy. ULFA had failed to realize that it had to deal with ‘Master Politician’ of Assam of modern times, Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, who was heading the State Government.

. No doubt kidnapping incident had sent shock waves in the government circles. But the man at the top of the helms of affairs of the government, was least ruffled. Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, known for his unfathomed patience and cool headedness, saw a golden opportunity in this to cut ULFA down to size by allowing it to rejoice initially. On the other hand, inebriated by its initial success of kidnapping, ULFA, then, decided to blackmail the government. It told the government that the release of the hostages was subject to the release of TADA detainees. As an apparent good-will gesture the government decided to release a few TADA détainees to cool down the public anguish over the issue. But there was a grand design beneath this apparent move. Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia had chalked out his strategy well and decided to exploit this incident in favour of the government. One could not but admire him for his deft handling of the issue. He used this crisis to turn the public against ULFA. His strategy was to prolong the crisis and make hostages a liability for ULFA. He best expressed his philosophy at Sibsagar in the last week of October 1991, when a journalist quizzed him on the steps taken by the government to secure the safe return of the hostages. He said, “I am worried about the safety and security of the 2.2 Crores people of Assam than six hostages”.

He was a master politician-cum-administrator and a negotiator at his best. Outwardly soft spoken and presenting a false façade of a physically frail man, he was of iron-will and steeled mind. One was lucky to have known him from close quarters. In fact, he was the person who guided me to plan my strategy of not to go for an operation to rescue the hostages. It was on 01 October 91 at Jorhat circuit house, where I first met him personally. What happened was that we had got first major gain of ‘Operation Rhino’ in the form of the capture of Jorhat district commander of ULFA, Mr. Nikun Dutta alias Ranju Sarma. He was a ruthless killer and biggest extortionist cum kidnapper of ULFA of those days. Mr Hiteshwar Saikia had come to see the cache and the catch. In my talk with him there, I disclosed that we had definite information on two of the nine hostages being kept in my area. And boastfully, I told him “Sir, within two to three days we will rescue them”. He turned grim and questioned me, “Do you assure 100 percent safety of these two poor hostages? What happens if ULFA kills them and passes on the blame to you. Do you know its consequences? All good work done by you so far will suddenly become a nightmare to you. You must know that ULFA wants you to do this to get rid of them. You will be just falling into their trap”. I was startled. I had not thought about the consequences of the failure of our mission. I told him, “ Sir, I assure you 80% chance of success”. He was not impressed. He remarked,“ 20 percent elements of doubt are still there. Do not go for it unless you are 100 percent sure. Turn this information into your favour. Keep chasing them. Hunt them out every day and night. Make hostage a liability for ULFA. Do not give them an excuse to kill them. Do not worry. Hostages will be released one day”. What a man of vision he was! Uncannily I felt that he was going to use hostage crisis as a weapon to make ULFA helpless. By the time, ULFA realized his grand strategy, it was too late, he had sullied the ROBBINHOOD image of ULFA, created so painstakingly. They had to release the Hostages in December 1991 because they had become a clear cut liability for ULFA. I can clearly vouch for the correctness of his strategy.

Late Mr Beant Singh, ex-Chief Minister of Punjab, 1991-1994, learnt this art from him and he too determinedly turned the tables on Punjab militants by his firm handling. Beant singh gave unconditional support to, now called SuperCop, KPS Gill and the result is known to whole world. The same Super Cop had failed miserably in his earlier stint as DGP of Punjab Police when there was Governor rule in Punjab. J&K , today, is crying for a la-Saikia or a la-Beant. This is what is not happening in J&K. I know it as I have handled militancy in all three states of Assam, Punjab and J&K, besides Nagaland and Manipur. If Hiteshwar Saikia and Beant Singh were alive for few more years, the militancy would have been totally wiped out from these two states. Mr Gulam Nabi Azad and Mr. Mufti Mohammed Sayyed are incapable of such decisions—so J&K burns and Pakistan gets an upper hand.

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• Comments (15)
    rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear ashish,
i am grateful to you for your wonderful comments. i really appreciate your compliments and i will relish them for a long time to come. thanks--it is a true incident i narrated---true in every sense---hope the readers liked it and i am thinking of continuing with this kind of narrations periodically-- in future too.regards. rajee.

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ashishdimriwrites posted 4 yrs ago

respected rajji,
thanks for sharing with us the willy politician and a very tough minded soldier!
it was a good articulate description about behind the scene activities.
yours,
ashish

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rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear aditi ray,
thank you very much for nice comments. i appreciate your understanding of the subject. militancy needs to be handled firmly but with a flexible approach. no set templates are available to apply all such similar problems. i am grrateful to you. regards. rajee.

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Aditi Ray posted 4 yrs ago

very honest hard-hitting blog. dealing with terrorism needs both a spine and vision. if you give an inch, they will take a mile.

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rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear krishanan bala sir,
thanks for encouraging words. you have come after a long lay off. must have been busy with something. yeap, hiteshwar saikia, i do now was from a different genre of politicians--he was a few notches above these 'safed posh' from outside but crroks from inside, i had this unique privilege to serve with him. we need a few of his kind in the sensitive states of india. regards. rajee.

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Krishnan Bala posted 4 yrs ago

dear rajee,
it is nice of you to hve decided to share your personal experiences of operation rhino after a lapse of some 15 years.few politicians are really an exception and they are respected for their evaluation and proper appreciation of the critical issues that plague the nation and give a meaningful direction to the eecutive to allieviate the sufferings. no doubt in this aspect hiteswar saikia was out-standing . 

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rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear maddss123,
i am really grateful to you for such encouraging words from you. it is really thrilling to know that the post has been liked by you. in my 10 years of handling militancy and terrorism under different conditions and regions, i have some very interesting titbits on various aspects of militancy. i am convinced unorthodox methods prove more successful than bookish stuff. i will talk about them in a due course of time. these will be all truthful and personal experiences--without any fiction or polishing, i assure you. regards. rajee.

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rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear chanchal47,
thanks for recommending the post. it was very nice of you. i reckon you would have liked it too. thanks. regards. rajee.

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rajee kushwaha posted 4 yrs ago

dear namita,
thanks for your lovely comments and recommending it. yea, i have some stories ,i will come out with them from time to time. regards. rajee.

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maddss123 posted 4 yrs ago

dear rajeeji

interesting facts from you on assam crisis, hope you would have many such stories to share!

regards