Page 65 - MRPC Souvenir Bodhon 2018

From a Crimson Dawn to a Scarlet Sun…

Joy Kunda (Flat : 11/5/E)

Final checks were on, the AK- 47s, the stacks of ammunition magazines and grenades; all stuffed into the knapsacks.
The 4 figures feasted on fistfuls of almonds, chewed quickly in the darkness… their mouths dry… but their thirst was
for blood. These high protein mouthfuls would have to sustain these shadowy figures for the next 8 hours. At least
8 hours…
Dressed in Indian Army combat fatigues, Satya mein Vijayate, et al, with their creepy beards all clean shaven to blend
in, the shadows emerged out of their launch point below a ridge line overlooking a stunning expanse of frontier land.
In absolute darkness, they trekked, slithered and crept down to the barbed wire fences of the Indian Army's Uri
Brigade in J& Ks Uri Sector, on the LoC.
They knew there was no turning back from here on. It would be another attack and glory would be theirs' as their
Ustaads across the border had told them. The 72 virgins would greet them for their shahadat. What they did not know,
was this would change India like nothing else had, in the past quarter century. It would compel India to activate a small
part in the Cold Start Doctrine, a military point of no return.
By the time the sun was up, Special Forces (SF) commandos had been diverted to Uri. 17 of our bravest had already
breathed their last. 2 more would be martyred later in the base hospital.
In the uninterrupted trickle of blood the valley had seen till that gun fire raked dawn, this ambush was special. Other
than the gory scale of casualties the 4 terrorists managed to achieve, it was the hubris of the Uri Attack that ignited
unprecedented anger. It had come while families still mourned those who had died defending the Pathankot Airbase,
just 8 months before.
What was expected, was India's wrath would be confined to public outrage and the rhetoric would be slowly dissipated
with the aunties from the aman ki asha brigade. The blanket coverage of this episode took over television news and
the Internet on the morning of Sep 18, 2016; A chill descended upon Raisina Hill. The 'war rooms' went silent with the
final verdict delivered. A nation was to extract its pound of flesh.
In the deep dark depths of utmost secrecy, Maj. Tango moved in with his band of brothers to decimate 4 launch pads in
th
Pak occupied Kashmir. That evening on the 28 of Sep 2016 went into bliss as Maj Tango, just de-briefed, shouted for
help: “Koi khanatohkhila doh, sareydaru hi pila rahein hai”, (Someone get us some food, they are all giving us
alcohol). The feat has become legend and the episode is now history, however, this was a decisive step which has now
paved the way for the crowning glory of our boys in green. For a change the oldies in white are now second base. The
leviathan is now riding home, the Dawn is just awakening.
The crimson color of the rising sun now bathes the white snows… Red is the color of blood, scarlet is the shine on our
armour.

[ P.S. The writer does not wish to hurt the sentiments of any. This is a depiction of true events as they had unfolded in
the light of the reality of our times.]