The Crimson Conspiracy Read online

  The Crimson Conspiracy The Crimson Conspiracy

  David Singh

  Ne Plus Ultra Media (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

  Published by

  Ne Plus Ultra Media (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

  Sector 22, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110075 Email: [email protected]

  © David Singh

  All rights are reserved. Any part of this book may not be reproduced, repossessed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, record or any other form, without prior permission of

  the publication house.

  The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the Author of this work.

  First Edition: May 2015

  The CrimsonConspiracy

  Cover Designed & Typesetting by THE BOOK BAKERS [email protected] Contact: 9811114827

  Printed in India

  For Jade, Tia, Meeta and all those brave heart soldiers who died and are still dying in the name of cross border diplomacy and peace keeping efforts.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENT

  In mid eighties, when I read my first novel – Lambey Haathh by Surendra Mohan Pathak, I was compelled to read all his books by hunting them down in various shops and libraries. SMP ignited a spark in me to try writing but want of direction, encouragement and suitable knowledge took 26 years until I came across the man who, did not pull me, but, in fact, pushed me into writing, rekindling the doused sparks by encouraging me to deliver what you have in your hand as finished book.

  The man is none other than the author of best selling unique counter-buster THE BHAIRAV PUTRAS – Suhail Mathur. His unblemished trust in me made me tread the path on this journey with him as my trusted book agent, designer, editor and most of all my advisor, critic and friend. Thank you Suhail always for being around.

  I would also like to thank my literary agents, THE BOOK BAKERS, for guiding me and helping me secure a traditional publisher. The brilliant cover, which has also been designed by THE BOOK BAKERS, further makes me indebted towards them.

  Taking a chance on a new author and that too with a genre which is still having a jittery take-off on Indian English Fiction Writing Horizon, my hearty thanks goes to my publishing house, Ne Plus Ultra Media. They not only showed complete – and I mean complete

  – trust in my story but also put up on and off with my whims and fancies which, I believe, no publisher would stand. Upendra, my sincere gratitude for being the one publisher I needed. We have a long journey to enjoy together.

  I am indebted to my wife to let me take off the generous piece of her share of time for writing at weekends and also to my little daughter Tia for adding spice to those efforts.

  Dear Jade, we can never forget you. I know you look from up, above there to shower all your blessings on us always. Thank you to be the part of our life.

  The Crimson Conspiracy is based on several news headlines – late and recent. Story itself is pure fiction and any kind of resemblance is sheer coincidence but when we read about and talk of oppressors and oppressed, saviours and victims and those who put their lives on line, we identify with the real heroes around us. This work of mine is sincerely dedicated to such heroes who are fighting battles for a cause, losing or winning apart. They don't care if the death is their reward. For them the future is here and now, as they fight and die.

  Finally, I thank you reader, for picking up this piece of work. Your critique – positive or negative – is always welcome as an enlightening feedback for me to make my next writing much, much more entertaining for you.

  Prologue

  Three main events, back in time, triggered the present incidents. First was Mujahid Hameed Malik's death during India's Operation Vijay against Pakistan's Kargil assault. Second: Kick off of Hameed Malik's son Nissar Malik's ambitious mission to infiltrate India, sponsored by Pak's ISI and lastly but most importantly: Birth of Elite 5 in India – an apparently nonexistent, deadly, elusive and exceptionally trained group of 5 warriors up against any kind of threat to the nation and its people.

  July 1999

  Khaplu village, Ghangche district, North Pakistan

  The Mujahid was drifting away, succumbing to his fatal wounds.

  He was one of the few fortunate mortals who could manage to see their families before bidding them last adieu. The most fatal of the high altitude warfare provoked by Pakistan Army had drawn Indian armed forces into a series of fierce battles in Mushko Valley, Batalik Sector and regions around Kargil. The war – known to the world as Kargil War and named by the Indian offensive: Operation Vijay – eventually led to Pakistan's 4000 casualties including one third Mujahidin fighters trained by Pak's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

  A thirteen year old boy stood by the bedside, holding his mother's hand and sobbing while fighting the threatening tears.

  Hameed Malik looked into boy's blurred eyes and managed a near whisper one last time. 'What… would you do when you meet… an Indian kaafirsoldier, son?'

  The boy knew the answer to the question his father would customarily ask him several times before in the past too.

  'Take his head,' the thirteen year old replied with clenched teeth.

  Hameed managed a faint, satisfactory smile – his last – before closing his eyes.

  The boy could not have brought himself to believe that his father was no more, if his mother – now a widow – had not let out a sharp, painful cry for the departed soul. He quietly wiped his tears. The single reason behind his beautiful eyes was that they were emerald green.

  Early August 2008

  Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

  'Kamran,' General Ehsan Majid – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee – lashed at the man in plain clothes sitting across the table,

  'I believe you don't expect me to sit here and laugh at some sort of joke.'

  'Ehsan bhai,' the man named Kamran replied in an even tone, ignoring Ehsan Majid's designation, 'I advice, you first listen to what we have to say then we will take your remarks.'

  Mohamed Kamran had risen from a junior field operative to one of the Senior Intelligence Officers in ISI's Joint Intelligence-North, looking after J&K operations against India. His frank interaction with General Majid regardless of latter's position and designation was the proof of ISI's influence in matters concerning India.

  General Majid's voice caught a touch of reluctance.

  'Carry on.'

  The speaker picked up the wooden pointer from the table. 'This is our village Fraono near LOC, here,' he pointed at the long dashed line running almost vertically across the huge map on the wall. 'This, in the east, hardly three-four kilometers away from LOC, is Turtuk village on Indian soil. Down here, in Leh, is THOISE, nearly two hundred kilometers from Turtuk. Here, between Turtuk and Thoise, sits Indian Military's eyes and ears – Post 9. Our initial goal is to enter Turtuk.'

  Transit Halt Of Indian Soldiers Enroute (THOISE) is a single runway strip airbase with a helipad constructed by Indian Air Force for Indian Army, a little more than 150 kilometers from Leh. The planes, that carry all the supplies to the Siachen Glacier Indian Army Posts, halt here.

  General ignored Kamran and addressed the speaker in khaki. 'You intend to enter Turtuk – behind enemy lines – on foot, all the way from Fraono?'

  'Yes General. Me and my men.'

  General shook his head in disbelief. 'What else do we call a savage, foolish and suicidal intention? Anyway, carry on commander.'

  The speaker in khaki continued. 'Between Fraono and Turtuk there is miles long stretch of harsh and ruthless mountains where snow never melts and no human has ever set foot. The ninety five handpicked men have spent their childhoods in Karakoram mountain range and Skardu region. The mighty snow
peaks have been their childhood toys, valleys their playgrounds and treacherous ravines their amusement parks. Trained men are not capable of what these men are with their bare limbs. We have got them trained with equipment. These men will take me and eight SSG commandos to Tutruk. It will be a steady, however slow, Batch Trek.'

  'Batch Trek?'

  'Yes, General. Hundred men will be segregated into four groups of twenty five each. First group – comprising the toughest ones – will move on first to make the passage easier for the people following. First group will reach a certain distance in two week's time and setup a camp until next group catches up with it. This way, first group will have time to relax and acclimatize. Then the first group will move on for another two week for next camping and second group will wait at the first camp site for the third group and so on. This way, entire caravan of warriors will slowly crawl up to the LOC in five months time. Benefit: ease of carrying the stuff we need, lesser casualties and convenient trek.'

  General intervened, 'let's assume you reach Turtuk with these hundred men then what the eight commandos would do? They are no match for Indian command post in Turtuk.'

  'Commandos have nothing to do at Turtuk. Other men will take over Turtuk. Commandos will capture Thoise. Our further targets are Khalsar, Batalik and Zojila axis. In near future, Kashmir on one side and Siachen on the other. I……'

  Zojila axis is Srinagar-Leh National Highway-1A.

  Majid intervened mockingly. 'Khalsar! Batalik! Kashmir! Siachen! With your eight commandos? What kind of bullshit is this? Daydreaming is neither my hobby nor habit.'

  Kamran shook his head in exasperation and said. 'We will prepare the ground for the deciding war we are destined to give to our neighbour which we shall win even before it begins. PAF troops will execute their role on that ground. But General, first you…'

  General narrowed his gaze and cut in. 'I give you ten minutes to finish this and then I leave….ten minutes.'

  Speaker in khaki took a brief pause to recollect his thoughts before beginning his undisturbed explanation. 'The plan has four major phases, first being the longest and toughest wherein we discreetly sneak into Turtuk…'

  General hopped in again. '…In past, we have committed the strategic mistakes of engaging the enemy at the entry points which they were already aware of and could easily manage to confront and eventually crush us.'

  Kamran blurted. 'You mean to say, General, that Kargil was a strategic failure?'

  'No Kamran sahib,' General smiled. 'Kargil was, in fact, a magnificent example of military assault strategy but we were defeated by the insurmountable courage and unsurpassable passion of Indian soldiers to sacrifice themselves for their country. That's a fact and we all know this. Where our men scrammed on heavy assault, Indian soldiers stood in the line of fire to let others move ahead and claim triumph. How can we forget the loss of Tiger Hill? Those bastards snatched the bone off our very jaws.'

  'What's with LOC when you reach it commander?' Brig. Taufeeq, so far a mute spectator, sitting next to General, intervened in time before the anticipated hot argument between the two men could brew up into a stormy debate.

  'LOC, on the map, is just a dashed line, practically it is flanked by miles of ravines impossible to watch over, and even the barbwire fence is not present since no one is expected to walk down there. Not a single soldier from either side has ever treaded that cold desert composed of steep slopes crowned with jagged peaks and running down to endless ravines. No one can ever imagine hundred men crossing that way. In the extreme eastern part of the village, here,' he tapped a highlighted patch over the map, '…are steep dense mountains. Hidden beneath them is a huge maze of interconnected caves. We will stash all our stuff

  – light weapons and other equipment - here. We have dis-assembled the equipment to carry the parts. This all will be assembled back in those caves.' Speaker took a brief pause and continued, 'on Indian soil, flows Shyok River supplied by Siachen glacier and on the other side, you see, this white patch? This is a huge natural flat ground. Here we shall make our base camp code named Nest, right over the head of the enemy. No one walks around here. Indian patrol terminates its vigil just little over a kilometer before this point. Within twenty hours of setting our foot in the base camp we shall execute phase two.'

  He paused. Finding no one speaking he continued, 'An Indian helicopter from Leh visits Turtuk military post every Friday to bring necessary supplies and returns before dark. This information plays pivotal role in our mission. Turtuk military post has around fifty soldiers. We have planned a diversion to divide them into two. Diversion will bring half of them to the central part of the village straight into the deadly trap to die instantly. Rest of the soldiers will be killed at the command post itself. Phase two will end after seizing the helicopter which will take our eight SSG commandos further inside to Thoise airbase completely unsuspected.'

  'Completely unsuspected? How come? What about their AIRCON comm codes and routine security checks over the transmitters?' General's voice had a clear touch of disbelief.

  'To answer your question Majid bhai,' Kamran spoke, 'I would play something for you to hear. Pay attention.'

  General didn't even nod. Taking his silence as a yes, Kamran pushed the play button of the audio player kept on the table. After a momentary silence, a brief tone of static was heard. Then the static faded into a persistent background noise and a clear male voice was heard in foreground, 'Garuda calling Mynah…..eight three three nine one four. This is Garuda….come in Mynah…….Mynah do you copy?'

  After a brief pause of precisely nine seconds another male voice came over. 'Mynah says hello to Garuna. We receive you clear and loud, repeat clear and loud.'

  First male voice asked. 'How is the weather?'

  'Gloomy and dark. Persistent awning of clouds overhead.'

  'Wait for the sunshine, Mynah. Keeping.'

  'Sure Garuda. Thanks for the concern.'

  After a brief static the audio clip fell silent.

  Kamran pressed Pause and said. 'This is the routine handshake between Post 9 and Turtuk command post. Gloomy and dark means all is in control otherwise Mynah would have said: bright weather. Clear sky. That means danger.'

  'Intercepting each other's conversation over the air is nothing new. What's the point?'

  'First listen to this too.' Kamran said and released the Pause button. For next few moments the repeat of the same clip was heard. Finally the audio stopped on its own.

  Man in khaki addressed the General in particular. 'Did you notice anything General sahib?'

  General Majid took a thoughtful pause before responding. Finally he replied gingerly, 'well……the second clip is the exact repeat of the first one.'

  'So we pass the test with distinction.' Man in khaki was delighted.

  General gave a questioning look. Taufeeq replied. 'Sir, in the second audio clip, Mynah was our man.'

  'What?' General couldn't believe his ears.

  'Yes Majid bhai.' Kamran added. 'For past several months seven men have been practicing the exact voiceovers, tones, pauses, pitch and other minute details of such conversations. They have a natural throat and gut for mimicry. Joint Signal Intelligence guys in Peshawar have trained them to refine their talent on this for past few months. You must have noticed that there was a precise nine seconds' pause before Mynah had responded to Garuda. Nine seconds denotes that this conversation was intercepted on a Friday. They add four to each day. Friday is fifth day hence five plus four makes nine. If Mynah had replied instantly that meant danger and Turtuk command post is in some kind of hold up. And, Mynah had said clear and loud while naturally we say loud and clear. Anyone faking real Mynah would have given himself away instantly. They are too clever. It took JSIB almost a year to figure out these fine details.'

  Kamran took out a set of folded sheets from his coat pocket. 'Here are all the routine communication codes being used between Post 9, Thoise air base, Leh posts and Turtuk command post.'

 
General took the sheets, gave them a cursory look and asked. 'How did you get your hands over all this?'

  'We have a good friend in Turtuk. He will also help bringing Indian soldiers into the trap.'

  'So, let me guess,' General addressed the man in khaki. 'Your men will fool Post 9 and Thoise air base into thinking that Indians are coming in an Indian helicopter which, in fact, would carry our commandos.'

  'Exactly General sahib. That would be our real test since instead of Indians our men will be talking to Post 9 that moment.'

  'Suppose you succeed then what next?'

  'Unsuspected helicopter will land at Thoise. There is a handful air traffic control staff only. Thoise will be ours in not more than tenfifteen minutes. That will finish phase three of the mission. In fact, after phase two, Pakistan Air Force and Rangers will take over.'

  'Commander.' General addressed the man in khaki in a grave tone. 'Do you have any idea if you are caught; our entire strategy against India will be doomed once they discover that we are still in cahoots with Al Qaeda?'

  'General sahib,' came the reply, 'none of us will carry any identifications. We will withdraw after phase two is over. Then Pak military and PAF will take over.'

  'What made you think of this insane mission?'

  'I have to meet a man in Turtuk I have been waiting for past nine years.'

  'Who?'

  'Lieutenant Colonel Varun Kumar Kaushik. Commander of Turtuk Post. I can't let go this rare chance Allah has presented me to avenge my father's murder.' Speaker in khaki smirked menacingly.

  'So it's your personal vendetta our defence budget will contribute to, eh?'

  'Majid bhai,' Kamran replied, 'Malik is a man driven with hatred and revenge in his heart. Our support will not only help him avenge his father but will also help us realize our long lost dream of….'

  General sprang up on his feet, leaned on the table and piercing Ahfaq's gaze with his, spat in scorn.

  'Listen Kamran sahib…… I am not General Musharraf. My remarks are coming a bit too early and rather rudely since your presentation is not yet over but let me tell you, with this foolish and savage plan, this dream of yours is going to turn into a historical nightmare. I know, I can't stop you from pulling this off but I do not intend to take any responsibility of the glaring disaster which I see looming to strike. Should I wish you all good luck?'