In the late afternoon of 03 November 1988, maroon bereted troops of India’s elite 50 Independent Parachute Brigade filed into the holds of two IL -76 transport aircraft in Agra airfield. At that point of time few of them knew where they were headed or what exact they were going to do, but in the next few hours they would help shape India’s image as a regional power.
The theatre where the drama was to unfold lay 3000 kilometres away – in the picture postcard islands of Maldives. There, around 200 heavily armed mercenaries of the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) backed by Maldivian businessman Abdullah Latif and his henchmen had stormed the capital of Male, took over the television and radio stations, surrounded the Presidential Palace and forced President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to seek shelter in the Headquarters of the National Security Service. Besieged there, President Gayoom sent out frantic messages of help to the USA, the Soviet Union, Pakistan and India. And though none of the other powers responded, India acted with a speed that amazed the world.
News of the coup was received in New Delhi around 6 in the morning and conveyed to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. India was then embroiled in the operations of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka (See ‘OP PAWAN – India’s Foray into Sri Lanka’) and were loath to undertake another operation in a foreign country, By Rajiv Gandhi made the decision rapidly and ordered the despatch of Indian troops to the Maldives to assist President Gayoom. By 7.15 a m the IAF had been instructed to keep aircraft ready and 50 Independent Para Brigade located at Agra was ordered to be ready for immediate move. The Brigade Major, Major Vinod Bhatia, (Later Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia) rapidly coordinated the move. The brigade was widely dispersed on training and security duties, but 6 PARA and 3 PARA, the only available units in station were rapidly mobilised for the operation.
IL 76 readies for Take off
At that time, nobody, not even the Commander, Brigadier Faroukh Bulsara (‘Bull’ Bulsara, as he was nicknamed) knew the complete situation. They were given a one line brief, ‘To rescue the President of Maldives and escort him safely back to India.’ They had no information of the layout of the 1200 odd islands that make up the Maldives. None of them had ever seen the place and the only maps available were tourist maps and brochures. Brigadier Bulsara, requested Mr Ashok Banerjee, the High Commissioner to the Maldives who was present for the final briefing to accompany them so that his local knowledge and expertise could be used. Banerjee readily agreed, picked up his tooth brush, and joined the troops in the leading aircraft. He became the first IFS officer to participate in military operations.
As the powerful engines whined to life, the paratroopers raised their battle cries of ‘Chattri Mata ki Jai”, (Victory to the Parachute) and the two IL – 76 transport aircraft lifted off from Agra and began the 3000 kilometre flight towards the Maldives. OPERATION CACTUS was on its way. The four and a half hour long flight was used to brief the troops, study the tourist maps and make their plans. As per the initial plan, Hulhule airfield – the Maldivian airport located on an island which was separated from Male by a kilometre wide stretch of water – was to be first secured by the paratroopers. They would then cross over the straits, reach Male and head for the NSS Headquarters where President Gayoom was taking refuge. The entire operation hinged on securing Hulhule airfield, but they had no way of even knowing if Hulhule had been taken over by PLOTE mercenaries or was still in the hands of loyal government troops.
Brigadier Bulsara had two options. Drop 60 paratroopers (only 60 pre-packed parachutes were available to the brigade when they took off) onto the airfield, secure it and then land the rest of the force. On the narrow, wind-swept island there was no dropping zone large enough for a paradrop. The paratroopers could get swept off by the wind and get carried into the waters, which could cause needless casualties. The other option was to take a chance and land directly at the airport, secure it and then rush to save the President.
It had been decided that should Hulhule airfield be held by government troops, the signal ‘HADIYA’ would be transmitted by the ATC. The runway lights were to be switched on only at the last moment to prevent the terrorists from being alerted of the arrival of the Indians. As they approached Hulhule, Group Captain Bewoor, flying the lead aircraft, received the code word ‘HADIYA’ and Brigadier Bulsara decided to land. The giant, fully loaded IL-76 descended towards the dark, unlit runway. Just 200 meters away, the runway lights came on, enabling Bewoor to land. As the wheels touched down, the lights switched off again and the aircraft rushed forward in darkness, coming to a halt just short of the runway’s edge. In the darkened fuselage, the tightly packed paratroopers gripped their weapons and let out a collective sigh of relief. It was now 9.48 p m on 3 December and the Indian army had landed in the Maldives.
The leading troops of 6 PARA rushed out of the aircraft and secured the airfield, the ATC and the airport buildings. Ten minutes later, the second IL 76 landed, bringing with it a company of 3 PARA along with the Engineers, Medical and Artillery component of the Brigade. As the troops fanned out, PLOTE fighters in the vicinity of the airfield slipped away and they encountered no hostile activity in Hulhule airport. But from the direction of Male, sounds of gunfire could be heard. The terrorists had made the critical mistake of leaving the airport unoccupied. Else, even one single truck place on the runway would have put paid to all plans.
With the airport secured, at around 11 p m, a company of 6 PARA under Colonel S C Joshi and Major R J S Dhillon, commandeered boats and ferries and sailed across to Male which was on an island around a kilometre away. Another company of 3 PARA moved on boats towards the North-eastern part of the island so that they could approach from two different directions. Guided by loyalist troops, they reached the NSS HQ where President Gayoom was sheltering. The walls of the HQ were pockmarked with bullet holes and mortar bursts – a testimony to the attacks it had been subjected to by the PLOTE fighters. At around 2.10 am Col Joshi and his men linked up with NSS soldiers and were taken to Gulistaan House where the President was taking refuge. He was shaken, but greeted his Indian rescuers warmly and then was escorted away to safety. As his car moved out, paratroopers forming a tight cordon around it, their eyes alert for snipers that could be hiding in any of the adjoining buildings. President Gayoom was placed in a safe house and around four in the morning made a telephone call to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to thank him for India’s help. He however refused to leave the Maldives and insisted on remaining in his capital.
But the drama was not yet done. Even as operations were underway to secure the President, PLOTE terrorists received news of the Indian Army’s arrival and decided to flee. Taking 14 hostages, including the Maldivian Minister of Education, they hijacked a freighter M V PROGRESS LIGHT and at around 11 pm of night 03 December – just as Indian troops were making their way to Male – fled the Maldives. Their movement was detected, and the hijacked vessel fired upon by guns of 17 Para Field Regiment, which scored hits but could not prevent the ship from slipping out into the open ocean. Tracked by reconnaissance aircraft of the Indian navy, the MV PROGRESS LIGHT was intercepted by the frigates INS GODAVARI and INS BETWA which blocked its path and ordered it to halt. The terrorists refused to surrender and the frigates launched helicopters to drop depth charges around it. With the ship damaged and listing, and the terrorists stunned by heavy firing, Naval Marine Commandoes (MARCOS) clambered aboard, overpowered the terrorists and swiftly took control of the ship.
Indian troops after the Operation
Eleven civilians (including four hostages) and eight Maldivian soldiers were killed in the failed coup. There were no casualties amongst the Indians – just a soldier injured in the foot when his gun went off accidentally. More troops were flown in from India and the situation stabilised. Then with the situation completely under control, Indian troops once again embarked on their aircraft two weeks later, on 17 November, and flew back, with its mission impeccably executed.
The successful overseas operation in Maldives garnered international praise from world leaders ranging from Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and even China. In its wake, TIME magazine did a cover story, ‘Super Power Rising’ stating “India asserts its place on the world stage.” Though small in scale, the action highlighted Indian capabilities and reach. It show cased its ability to launch a major regional operation in just a few hours, guided by pluck, ‘Chattri Mata’ and a few tourist maps and perhaps set it on its course to becoming a regional power.