10 Interesting Operations of RAW that will blow your mind
10 Interesting Operations of RAW that will blow your mind
India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is always been a curiosity for the people of country. Their secret missions and operations are unaware even to our ministers. It works secretly to execute their operations to safeguard the valuable information of the country. Their work has created a mystery among the people. We only know about few missions of them just by reading newspapers and watching movies which were made on the successful operations accomplished by them.
Here we are bringing a list of interesting and mind-blowing missions conducted by RAW.
Operation Smiling Buddha: India’s first nuclear test was done in 1974. The whole responsibility to keep the secrecy and maintain the security of this nuclear test was given to RAW. It was the first time when RAW was involved in a mission inside the country. RAW worked so well in this project that even intelligence agencies of China and USA were unaware of this activity till the end. It was one of the most proud achievement of India that it took the world by surprise. This test was held in Pokhran range of Rajasthan.
Mumbai Attacks: Before the Mumbai Attacks of 26/11, RAW had intercepted various telephone calls about 2 to 6 months before the attack, which were pointing attacks on hotels of Mumbai by terrorists of Pakistan, but due to failure of coordination RAW couldn’t follow up the action. After that, just before the attack in Mumbai, RAW was able to monitor the satellite transmission and taped the phone calls of attackers and handlers. They recorded conversations between them, but it was too late to control the situation.
Operation Chanakya: To infiltrate several separatist group inside Kashmir RAW undertake the Operation Chanakya. It provided evidence of involvement of ISI’s in training and funding Kashmiri separatist groups. RAW successfully exposed the links between the ISI and the separatist groups and also overcome the militancy in the valley of Kashmir. Operation Chanakya also marked the creation of pro-Indian groups in Kashmir and created split in the terrorist organization.
Operation Snatch: These operations are hidden tasks, in which a suspect is arrested in a foreign country and bought to India then examine them at unknown sites and then formal arrest is made at an airport or border post. Some of RAW’s successful snatch operations include the arrest of Lashkar militant Tariq Mehmood and Abdul Karim Tunda.
Do you remember the climax of Akshay Kumar’s movie ‘Baby’ in which he arrest the chief of terrorist in neighbor country and then bought him to India and then arrest formally. This was based on RAW’s snatch operation.
Operation Leech: It was an Indian intelligence sting operation which held on 8th February 1998 to capture 34 Myanmar nationals in Andaman’s Landfall Island. It was all started when India allowed a Burmese rebel group, Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to trade precious stones in Indian Territory along with the supply of weapons. However, KIA started training and supplying weapons to northeastern Indian rebel groups. When RAW came to knew about this it initiated an operation called Leech, to destroy the rebel leaders and shot 6 rebel leaders and arrested 34 Arakanese guerrillas.
Kargil War: RAW was successful in bringing the proof of involvement of Pakistani Army in Kargil war. RAW intercepted a telephonic conversation which was held between Pakistani Army Chief, Pervez Musharraf and his chief of staff Lt. General Mohammed Aziz, which was indicating the involvement of Pakistani army in war. Before the releasing of this interception Pakistan denied their links with the war but RAW showed the tape and proved their involvement.
The Black Tiger: RAW sent an undercover agent to Pakistan to join Pakistani army. Ravindra Kaushik, the secret agent, was a famous theatre artist, who was spotted by RAW officers during his theatre drama. They contacted him and offered a job to become a secret agent of RAW. Ravindra hold the rank of Major in Pakistan army and saved thousands of Indian lives there. He also gave useful information to the Indian intelligence agencies. Later on he was conferred the title of ‘Black Tiger’.
Operation Kahuta: Kahuta is referred as most of the daring operation ever done by RAW. Kahuta is a site where the main nuclear weapons laboratory of Pakistan and emerging centre for long-range missile development is located. RAW get to know about the Pakistan’s nuclear programs by analyzing the hair samples of scientists which was found on the floor of barber shops near Kahuta Research Laboratory. The operation was failed because our then Prime Minister Morarji Desai informed to Pakistan’s then President Zia-ul-Haq that India is aware about the nuclear program of Pakistan. As a result this operation failed and many of the RAW agents got killed.
Creation of Bangladesh: RAW played a very important role in creation of Bangladesh. RAW was responsible to led the Bangladesh war, it supplied information and heavy armaments to Mukti Bahini, which is a Bangladeshi Guerilla organization. RAW also supported operations of Bangladesh Independence Movement. The result of which was ended with the separation of Bangladesh form India.
Operation Cactus: When Maldives was invaded by Tamil rebels in the year 1988, Maldives President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom asked help from India to overcome this situation. Indian Army was sent to Maldives after receiving orders from Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, they sent 1600 troops by air to restore order in Maldives. Here, RAW played a important role by providing the army with necessary intelligence information. After landing at Hulehule, an island of Maldives, Indian Commandos were able to bring back the Government rule within hours.