Strange things happen in combat.
http://therealslimkd.blogspot.in/2014/12/75-minutes-of-journey.html
Many years ago, an ambush was laid across a dry mountain stream and there was confirmed intel that a group of 6 heavily armed militants were to cross into India through the Bhimber Galli area. These same militants, the Intel report stated were trying to cross over for the last month from different points but were being thwarted. One confirmed attempt was three weeks ago at the KG area, when the Pakistani Army pounded the Indian defences from about 1500hrs till 2100Hrs- but a freak chance pick up by the NVD monitor ensured that the 'crossing party' were denied their entry into India. The report also said they would make their second attempt at BG, where they had tried to cross just ten days earlier. Maybe the Pakistanis were playing smart, and not using their ammunition to alert the Indians this time- well time would tell.
At about 0200Hrs, a lone militant was noticed by the scout, coming walking as opposed to the 6 we were expecting.... in about 15 mins of pin drop silence the man walked through the ambush continuing east bound in the general directions of the safer plains of the Poonch River.
Our stopper, the guy who closes the ambush, in an eager show- of glee and bravery, pounced on him and after him followed about 5 others of the ambush party. The militant, taken by surprise and weighed down by his rations, ammunition, AK, and his rug for protection from the cold- was easily over powered. A sound thrashing- to put it mildly- followed and a badly beaten and bruised militant, Ahmed, was taken into custody. As per the unwritten protocol, a signal was sent to the Bn HQ- that a militant was captured in a fire fight and he was grievously injured in the exchange of fire. he is extremely aggressive and with great difficulty we have managed to restrain him. Due to bleeding, it seems unlikely that he will survive the long walk back to the Unit Lines.
With the Unit duly informed, and his clothes stripped off- he was literally frog marched to the Unit.
Five days of sustained interrogation later, it was ascertained that this was the group that was trying to cross over about ten days earlier, when their attempt was thwarted by the Unit along the LoC, but at the loss of a Unit JCO. Once that news got out, the men of the Unit was very very angry and the air was thick with revenge and lynching seemed to be the flavour of the day. The troops were getting more and more agitated as time was going by and the risk that someone being on Guard Duty would shoot him was high. was decided to do away with him- and a young Captain was tasked to just take him away to the river and finish it off. 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' as I would remember his CO saying.
At about 0200Hrs, a lone militant was noticed by the scout, coming walking as opposed to the 6 we were expecting.... in about 15 mins of pin drop silence the man walked through the ambush continuing east bound in the general directions of the safer plains of the Poonch River.
Our stopper, the guy who closes the ambush, in an eager show- of glee and bravery, pounced on him and after him followed about 5 others of the ambush party. The militant, taken by surprise and weighed down by his rations, ammunition, AK, and his rug for protection from the cold- was easily over powered. A sound thrashing- to put it mildly- followed and a badly beaten and bruised militant, Ahmed, was taken into custody. As per the unwritten protocol, a signal was sent to the Bn HQ- that a militant was captured in a fire fight and he was grievously injured in the exchange of fire. he is extremely aggressive and with great difficulty we have managed to restrain him. Due to bleeding, it seems unlikely that he will survive the long walk back to the Unit Lines.
With the Unit duly informed, and his clothes stripped off- he was literally frog marched to the Unit.
Five days of sustained interrogation later, it was ascertained that this was the group that was trying to cross over about ten days earlier, when their attempt was thwarted by the Unit along the LoC, but at the loss of a Unit JCO. Once that news got out, the men of the Unit was very very angry and the air was thick with revenge and lynching seemed to be the flavour of the day. The troops were getting more and more agitated as time was going by and the risk that someone being on Guard Duty would shoot him was high. was decided to do away with him- and a young Captain was tasked to just take him away to the river and finish it off. 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' as I would remember his CO saying.
As the Captain and members of his Ghatak Platoon followed him, Ahmed realized that they were going to kill him as the soldiers started to squabble and argue about who would shoot him.
Strangely, the Units junior most officer, a young Lt, fresh out of IMA, an AEC Officer on deputation to the Sikh Unit- voiced his quiet opinion. 'Sir, after 4 months I will return to my Arm, I will never get this chance to kill a militant, Sir, please let me shoot him'
By the time the 6 men reached the stream, just 2km behind their Unit lines, they ordered a wailing and crying Ahmed to march into the water- knowing his end was high- he begged for mercy and swore on the Quran, wailing and crying hysterically, that he would never ever do this again. Immune to such stories, the Captain raised his AK- but was beaten to the draw by the young Lt, who said, in a high pitched shout- the shout sounded frantic and in a pitch more desperate than the pleadings of the soon to die, Ahmed- 'Sir please, Sirrrrrr' and managed to get his AK up and going- the first burst into the upper torso- two rounds to the upper torso- one to the nipple, one just under the clavicle, with one to the right cheekbone, while the other 25 rounds went, as wayward as the screams from the Lt's mouth.
The Captain cursed- and then calmly told the Lt 'You fucker, now go in the water and undo his wrists and ankles before blood coagulates there.'
Strangely, the Units junior most officer, a young Lt, fresh out of IMA, an AEC Officer on deputation to the Sikh Unit- voiced his quiet opinion. 'Sir, after 4 months I will return to my Arm, I will never get this chance to kill a militant, Sir, please let me shoot him'
By the time the 6 men reached the stream, just 2km behind their Unit lines, they ordered a wailing and crying Ahmed to march into the water- knowing his end was high- he begged for mercy and swore on the Quran, wailing and crying hysterically, that he would never ever do this again. Immune to such stories, the Captain raised his AK- but was beaten to the draw by the young Lt, who said, in a high pitched shout- the shout sounded frantic and in a pitch more desperate than the pleadings of the soon to die, Ahmed- 'Sir please, Sirrrrrr' and managed to get his AK up and going- the first burst into the upper torso- two rounds to the upper torso- one to the nipple, one just under the clavicle, with one to the right cheekbone, while the other 25 rounds went, as wayward as the screams from the Lt's mouth.
The Captain cursed- and then calmly told the Lt 'You fucker, now go in the water and undo his wrists and ankles before blood coagulates there.'
Such is death.
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