Riding the Raisina Tiger: Story of a military coup in India by Rohit Agarwal

Author:Rohit Agarwal [Agarwal, Rohit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swordarm
Published: 2016-01-12T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Raghavan sat in the operations room sipping a cup of coffee as Cherian updated him on the status of mobilisation across the country. Raghavan knew that it was almost time for him to move. He got the confirmation he awaited when a duty officer walked in with the update that the teams at ‘Romeo Bravo’, as the president’s estate was being referred to for the operation, were in place.

Raghavan and Cherian were veterans of innumerable operations against the enemy army and against terrorists. They were familiar with the feeling in the pit of the stomach before the ‘shit hit the fan’ as Cherian liked to allude to the commencement of operations. But today was different, and both of them could feel it without being able to put their fingers on the exact difference in the sensation. Both knew that unlike rushing into a terrorist hideout or an enemy bunker, the next few hours were not likely to bring them face to face with possibility of death. But it was probably the fact that nothing in their training had prepared them for an operation of this sort, coupled with the realisation that the stakes were much higher than any operation they had undertaken earlier, which made them uncharacteristically queasy today.

Raghavan glanced at his watch as he rose to leave. With a handshake and the traditional ‘thumbs up’ signal of the paratrooper towards Cherian, he left for the biggest plunge in his life.

The chief’s black Ambassador staff car halted on the main entry to Rashtrapati Bhawan ten minutes later. Accompanied by AK Singh, two ADCs and two bodyguards from the same Special Forces unit which formed the cordon around the building, he strode up the steep steps and into the building. The presidential speeches in the banquet hall were in progress. The president had just risen to read the prepared speech from the small lectern placed before him.

Raghavan and Cherian had selected this day for the operation to commence with a lot of thought. Everyone who mattered in their scheme of things would be present within the same room thanks to the presidential banquet. Also, there were no foreign leaders visiting the country – something that could complicate their plans.

Raghavan with his small retinue in tow walked purposefully to the banquet hall. The president stopped in mid-sentence, and every eye turned towards the door as it opened and the uniformed general walked in through it. There was a moment of stunned silence at this unbelievable transgression. Raghavan quickly strode to where the president stood and wordlessly took over the microphone, politely gesturing for the president to take his chair. The nonplussed president was too stunned to even think of protesting.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen” Raghavan started, his eyes travelling across the room to make sure that all those who mattered were present. “I am extremely sorry for this intrusion. An emergency has arisen and I have some urgent matters to discuss with the president and the prime minister which can’t wait. You are requested to remain here while we complete our consultations in the morning room.

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