Digendra Kumar - Operation Pawan

Operation Pawan

Operation Pawan was the codename assigned to the operations by the Indian Peace Keeping Force to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. In the brutal fighting that lasted for about three weeks, the IPKF took control of the Jaffna Peninsula from the LTTE rule, something that the Sri Lankan army had attempted and failed to achieve for several years. Supported by Indian Army tanks, helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, the IPKF routed the LTTE. This victory came at a price as the IPKF lost around 214 soldiers.

Digendra Kumar and his group were assigned the task of patrolling dominant areas in Tamil. Five Tamil militants fired and killed five soldiers from Digendra Kumar's squad. So he along with remaining soldiers followed the militants who entered the house of an MLA. The MLA opposed the action and in the fight the MLA along with five militants were killed. This raised a heated controversy and Digendra Kumar was penalized and remanded.

Meanwhile 36 soldiers of 10 Parachute Regiment were captured and put somewhere inside a deep forest. Lt Gen A.S. Kalkat assigned the task of freeing them to Digendra Kumar. Digendra Kumar took 50 kg ammunition and biscuits and sailed through the river which was supplied with 133 KV current, to reach the point of target. He not only saved 36 soldiers of 10 Parachute Regiment who were arrested by LTTE people in a forest for 72 hours, but also destroyed an important ammunition depot and killed 39 militants. This act of bravery was highly appreciated.