Chapter : 50; North-east India
It was the 2nd February of year 1997.
The northeast border hummed with activities-but not of busy trade routes nor cultural exchange-the illegal immigration case and growing feeling of insecurity started to alarm people.
Prime Minister, Animesh sat in his office, perusing over a file marked "Top Secret" handed to him by Mahesh, the Chief Secretary. The report was damning: porous borders, local corruption, and lack of technological infrastructure had allowed unaccounted immigration, along with rumored smuggling rings operating below the radar.
Animesh sat back in his chair, saying while looking over file, "This is not illegal immigration alone, Mahesh; this is a systemic failure. It is now time for decisive action."
Of course, he knew it all because he came from the future.
Mahesh nodded solemnly. "Sir, BSF is stretched too thin, and we lack any sophisticated surveillance system to keep track of these crossings effectively. Corruption within the local administration has made things worse."
Animesh's face darkened. "Then we fix it. Call an emergency meeting with the Home Minister, BSF leadership, and the Chief Ministers of the northeastern states. This cannot wait."
---
A Day Later
Thick tension filled the boardroom as senior officials and ministers made their presence felt. The table was full of maps outlining the northeastern border, marked with red zones indicating the most precarious in terms of crossing.
Animesh started in a firm, yet calm, voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't just about illegal immigration-it's about national security, economic stability, and the trust of our people. If we fail here, we fail as a government."
The BSF Chief spoke first. "Sir, the terrain is a big challenge-dense forests, rivers, and hills make monitoring of the border extremely difficult. Our outposts are far apart, and communication is slow."
Animesh turned to the Home Minister. "What about technological solutions? Can we deploy any systems to aid the BSF?
The Home Minister balked. "Sir, the technology at our command is limited. We have radio systems, basically, and binoculars. No sophisticated equipment-night vision cameras, motion sensors-nothing. Satellite imagery, well, we get that but sporadic at best, and it takes days to analyze."
Animesh let out a resigned sigh, knowing the limitation with which 1997 India faced. "Then we work with what we have. Reinforce the outposts, increase patrols, and liaise with local intelligence. And about corruption." He turned toward Mahesh. "BII will step in. I want an in-depth investigation into each official station near the border. Any person found running illegal activities should be brought before immediate justice."
Mahesh nodded. "I'll send in teams right away, sir."
He fully knew that mere military and administrative measures could not solve the problem. The people of the northeast had to be heard loud and clear, and supported. He announced a special economic package for the region: infrastructure, education, and job creation.
He spoke in Hindi during the packed town hall meeting in Assam, but he made provisions for translators who could help them understand it in their dialects.
"My friends, I hear you: illegal immigration is a threat to your identity, to your resources, and your security. Let me tell you one thing, that will not be allowed by this government. We will secure our borders, and we'll invest in your future. We'll build a stronger Northeast together, a safer Northeast."
With growing trust in the young Prime Minister, the crowd erupted with applause.
Meanwhile, plans were afoot for a big operation at the BSF headquarters. Animesh had sanctioned more troops and equipment. Flimsy observation towers erected with whatever little technological help available-searchlights, walkie-talkies, and manual surveillance.
BSF stepped up patrols and formed a special task force for the purpose of catching smugglers. Real-time intelligence through BII shed light on the elaborate network of local functionaries and smugglers operating in that area. Soon, the arrests started, fast and strong; deterrent against corruption was at large: corruption will be dealt with justly.
It was during one of these operations that BSF officers stopped a batch of immigrants in the night, crossing over into the border. Among their baggage were not only clothes and utensils but arms and packets of drugs. Questioning them further revealed a larger conspiracy: the fact that through this region, a powerful international cartel was routing arms and narcotics into India.
A few nexus had been established between the cartel and some Indian politicians and bureaucrats, hence the impunity with which they operated. This being the information that reached Animesh, he knew this was no longer just a border issue; it was a direct threat to the sovereignty of India.
News of the arrests and the involvement of the cartel sent the media into a frenzy. Opposition leaders termed the actions of the BII as a "witch hunt"; their man, Animesh, they alleged, had overstepped his authority. But Animesh did not relent.
Teleshopping his address to the nation, he had said, "My government will not allow any individual or organisation, foreign or domestic, to threaten the security and integrity of our nation. We will weed out corruption and break down these criminal networks. The people of India deserve no less."
But as the operation progressed, one very disturbing piece of intelligence came forth-the cartel was spread not only in India but its neighboring countries too. Fully dismantling it required Animesh to go out of his way into diplomatic channels, yet keeping his precious operatives intact on the field.
Few Days later.
This means the extent of the cartel was much beyond the borders of India, and whatever intelligence reports come in, it is no small operation. The routes ran thick across neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, parts of Nepal too. To uproot it completely, Animesh needed support, not within his government itself but across the borders.
He called an emergency meeting with his top advisors comprising the Foreign Minister, the National Security Advisor, and senior officers from BSF, RAW, and BII.
---
There was deadening silence in the room as topographic maps, intercepted messages, and profiles of key members of the cartel were laid out on the big table. The first to speak was the Foreign Minister, Rajiv Singh.
Going it alone with the neighbors runs the risk of escalation. More than anything else, the Myanmarese and Bangladeshis are sensitive to the hint that India was interfering in their internal affairs.
The NSA, between gritted teeth, fought his corner: "With all respect, sir, we cannot afford to try diplomatic channels alone. What that cartel is doing down there is literally undermining our own national security: drugs and guns flooding the streets, and if we take our time, that's going to be much worse.
He leaned forward, his eyes scanning the room. "We shall follow a two-pronged approach: one, engage at a political level to ensure that our neighbors understand that this cartel is not a threat to us only but to the region; two, step up the operations on the ground covertly to dismantle their operations in our country. BII will lead this.
Hitherto quiet, Mahesh nodded. "Sir, BII has marked out the principals in the northeastern states. In fact, we can start the operations straightaway, but for that, coordination with RAW will be required about their international connections.
That was enough, the decision taken in less than a second. "Well, then, all said and settled. Foreign Minister, arrange one-on-one conferences with your counterparts in Bangladesh and Myanmar, attributing this menace of the cartel as the backbone for regional coordination. NSA you'll take care of all the joint dealings between RAW and BII.
Within two days, Animesh was sitting in a private meeting with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. The talk was polite, yet tense.
"Prime Minister, while we appreciate your concern, you have to appreciate ours," the Bangladeshi minister said. "Any suggestion that elements within our country are abetting this cartel could create a domestic backlash."
Animesh replied in a tempered, firm tone: "This is not about finger-pointing; this is about finding a solution to a problem common to all. The cartel is exploiting our borders and hurting not just India but the whole region. If we work together, we can wipe out this scourge. If we don't, it will only grow stronger."
The meeting thus concluded on the way ahead concerning sharing of intelligence and coordination along the border. Discussions with Myanmar were less than satisfactory and had mixed results, but Animesh knew even a small opening was sufficient to have BII and RAW make their move.
Meanwhile, the BII was busy back home with leads. Intelligence provided from the arrested smugglers led to a chain of warehouses in northeastern states allegedly used to stash guns and drugs.
A combined force of BSF, local police, and undercover agents of BII raided a warehouse near the India-Bangladesh border in the dead of night. And what they found there was astonishing: crated automatic rifles, explosives, and several kilograms of heroin.
But the big breakthrough was a set of ledgers outlining the payments to local officials for border-crossings of goods.
Among the documents seized was one name that sent ripples in the room: that of Rahim Dawood, among the shadowy figures considered to be of the top rank in the cartel. According to the ledgers, Rahim operated from a base in Myanmar, with deep contacts both in India and Bangladesh.
Animesh was brought in next morning, and the discovery was narrated to him. "Rahim Dawood," he said, his voice grim. "If we can catch him, we can dismantle the whole network."
Mahesh agreed but voiced a concern. "Sir, extracting somebody like Rahim from Myanmar won't be easy. He's heavily guarded, and we can't risk an international incident."
Animesh thought for a while and then said, "We needn't extract him now. Keep concentrating on cutting off his supply chains and generally disrupting his operations. When we choke his network, he'll have to make a move. And then we will get him.
The story started running in the media once the operation really began to widen: "India Cracks Down on Border Smuggling" read every headline, "PM Animesh Takes Bold Action Against Cartels".
But not everyone was so easily swayed. Opposition leaders said the crackdown was little more than a red herring. "This is no more than a publicity stunt," said one opposition leader during a news conference. "The Prime Minister is trying to play the hero while ignoring the real problems facing our country.
Animesh replied calmly on television: "The safety and security of the nation are not political issues but responsibilities. I am not to be deterred by unfounded accusations. My commitment is towards the protection of the people in this country and I will continue to protect them."
Just when the efforts of Animesh had started to gain momentum, a blood-curdling message came in at the Prime Minister's Office.
In blood-red ink, an anonymous letter was sent reading as follows:
"You think you can stop us, Prime Minister, Mr Animesh Yadav? We are everywhere. We see everything. And we will not be defeated. Do You not love your family or yourself? You are just a young bird, don't try to meddle in the buisness of Eagle and Vulture, otherwise your wings will be cutoff, unknowingly in the future."