PANJIM: It was 23 years ago when India launched Operation Vijay to flush out Pakistan Army intruders who clandestinely occupied the Indian Army’s posts on the icy heights of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir, which were vacated during harsh winter.
Herald presents the tales of brave hearts, two from Goa and the third who is based here with the Navy who played a stellar role in crushing the enemy, thereby winning one of India’s most prestigious war battles in history.
Herald connected with them and their families to relive those moments of tension and ultimate pride.
Lt Col Austin Collaco (Retd), a trained mountaineer and instructor at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Sonamarg in Kashmir, at the start of Kargil operations, was responsible for helping Indian Army troops to climb the steep cliffs with an average height of more than 8,000 feet.
"The job was very challenging. There were horizontal and vertical pitons. One has to hammer it on the rock and fit the carabiner. I had to anchor the rope and help the soldiers to climb the cliffs," he said.
But it was easier said than done.
Not only was the climb steep and treacherous, but a slight noise would also have alarmed the enemy.
"To camouflage the sound, the hammers were covered with rubber,” Lt Col Collaco said.
According to the Kargil hero, the biggest challenge was to successfully lay the ropes.
"It had to be anchored but at night time and it was very difficult to find the cracks. Moreover, we were not supposed to use torches. I had to feel the gaps with my fingers,” he said.
Speaking about his main takeaway from the operations, the veteran officer said, “I feel that if I could execute this task, I can do anything,” he asserted.
Gunning for the enemy
Lt Col Jesus B Furtado was a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) with the Corps of Artillery. He was assigned to move forward with the troops and direct the artillery guns to smash the enemy positions, which he did with pinpoint accuracy.
Speaking to Herald, Lt Col Furtado’s mother Leonor de Noronha e Furtado recollecting those moments said, “We never anticipated that a conflict could take place. But when the need arose, our soldiers fought back as there was no other way. Jesus was also part of the operations.”
Though worried about her son’s safety, Leonor was not perturbed as action was not new for her. Her husband Maximiano Guilherme Furtado was a Gunnery Sergeant in the Portuguese Army and another son Jesus D Furtado was an Indian Air Force veteran.
“I belong to a family of soldiers and hence wasn’t scared. I am proud that my son played an important role in securing victory for our country,” Leonar Furtado said.
I belong to a family of soldiers and hence wasn’t scared. I am proud that my son played an important role in securing victory for our country
- Leonar Furtado, mother of Lt Col Jesus B Furtado
Saving crucial lives
While the Indian Navy was blocking all supply routes to Pakistan on the Arabian Sea to prevent logistical support from the Arab world as part of Operation Talwar movements the Pakistan Navy, Captain Utpal Datta was the sole naval officer to have actively participated in the Op Vijay.
Captain Utpal Datta, a helicopter pilot with the Indian Navy, currently posted at Headquarters Naval Aviation, Goa reminisced about the 77 hours that he clocked during Operation Vijay between June 4 and July 22, 1999, evacuating war casualties and providing logistical support.
"Though there were continuous artillery shellings from the other side, there was no time to think about anything and we had to carry out our operations as planned," Captain Dutta said.
Capt Datta said that choppers were the only lifelines in the battle zone areas of more than 130 kilometres along the LOC in Drass and Kargil.
"Since there was no night flying permitted, we used to wait for the first light of the day to resume flying again. Sleeping for just four-five hours in the entire day was a regular scenario," he said.
The courageous helicopter pilot earned a Chief of Army Staff commendation and a Nau Sena medal for gallantry. (With inputs from John Aguiar)
Though there were continuous artillery shellings from the other side, there was no time to think about anything and we had to carry out our operations as planned
– Capt Utpal Dutta, NM