Death in the mountains

One such assignment given to the army is guarding the several hundred kilometers of the rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal range from Reasi to Budhal region. This is the area where army has not only had to fight the enemy but also the steep mountain and unfriendly weather. Three years back these heights became a hotbed of militancy when terrorism spilled over from the Valley to this region.

For the battle hardened soldiers the evacuation of injured jawans from the treacherous terrains is the toughest thing they face while guarding the rugged terrain.

Life and death are separated by few minutes. And prayers the only thingfellow soldiers could resort do until the helicopter arrives. Those who reach the hospital in time survive. Sometimes the rough weather takes its toll. The chopper fails to land and the death tolls goes up.

Maj Gen G S Negi, General Officer in Commanding (GOC) of Dah Division said that initially when they took over the command of this area from the paramilitary forces on March 6, they had to face a lot of hardships.

“In counter insurgency, enemy is not clear. But here we have to face various problems. Firstly we have to identify the enemy and then aclimatise our men to the Pir Panjal terrain and unpredictable weather condition. But my boys put their life at stake and achieved the target,” says Negi.

The sacrifices have had some effect. Normalcy is slowly returning to the villages in these heights. The administrative officials have once again started attending to their duties and schools at some of the places have resumed their functioning.

Maj Gen Negi said that all this was possible only because Dah Division in various seek and destroy operations was able to eliminate 101 militants. Of which 65 were foreign mercenaries and rest were locals. Five militants have also surrendered.

A senior officer recollected an operation on Gulabgarh village situated at the height of 3,300 metres. In the wee hours, the troops of Sikh LI received information that militants were in the area. A column of troops led by Captain Aditya immediately moved on a long range patrol scaling the treacherous heights. For two days, without food and water the soldiers scoured the treacherous ridges and cliffs of Pir Panjal.

On the third day, they found the militants hiding inside a dhok (small thatched roof hut). Captain Aditya crawled in and opened fire killing one. As he aimed for a second kill, a hiding militant fired at him, the bullet grazing Aditya’s cheek bone. But the captain lost his balance and fell into the ridge.

His colleagues immediately flashed the message on their wireless set about Aditya’s injury. A Mi-17 chopper from Udhampur base reached the encounter site within 10 minutes. But it took another 45 minutes to lift Aditya from the Sonab Khatji ridge where he is lying.

The rope is thrown, and they manage to pull out Aditya. After a month at the hospital, Aditya has returned to action. At the same treacherous killer heights.

“My idol is Rana Sangha. Who lost one body part in each battle he fought. But never gave up. I will also do the same till my last breath,” says confident Aditya with glitter in his eyes.

Things become more difficult when more than four or five jawans get injured at a time on different peaks. Then it is the real test of nerves for both the pilots and the injured. In such cases, the pilots despite low visibility carry out their operation till late in the evening. Only to resume early in the morning.

“Normally climbing these heights of Pir Panjal it takes about 18 hours and it is very difficult to come down with an injured. At times the track is so steep that holding oneself becomes difficult. On several occasions the jawans slip. That time it is the God and the big rocks that come in between their death. May be for doing the good mission,” said Colonel Vijay Kumar of 10 Dogra based in Sarh.

When this correspondent met D.S. Atri, Brigadier Mahore Brigade, his troops had returned from an operation in which a militant was killed. With a grin he said: “For the Press, news means when the casualty toll of militants is high. But for our boys even a single militant matters. Especially, when one has to trace an invisible enemy on such heights and then kill him.”