Free Operation ‘Fox-Hunt’ by Siddhartha Thorat

to the government for security and is usually a political appointee with a cabinet rank. He or she heads the National Security Council or NSC which acts as the clearing house of all national security relatedissues. He also advises the Prime Minister on intelligence inputs and policy matters.
    The NSA, Ajay Nambiar, read the report and summoned Anant to his office. Years in the game had given him a sixth sense. An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1968 batch, Nambiar had spent a long time in the intelligence service. One of the original men to have shaped the intelligence organisations in the country under the mentorship of India’s legendary spy master R.N. Kao, he was one of the last ‘Kaoboys’ around, as the spymaster’s handpicked men were known in the Indian establishment. He had served at the sharp end of espionage. One of his first assignments involved liaison with the Mukti Bahini guerillas of the erstwhile East Pakistan. The operation had won him accolades from both professional as well as political leadership. As he rose in service, his diplomatic tongue and a flair for always being on the right side of India’s dirty political battles had ensured his rapid rise to the post of NSA. It was widely believed that as head of the IB, like others before him, he had access to files on most major political figures including the ‘first family’; but unlike others, he had taken copies out when he had left the bureau. After a string of political and administratively significant and sensitive appointments, he now headed the country’s security apparatus.
    Anant presented the entire scenario to the NSA. There was another man in the room. Anant wished him before he started his presentation.
    “Thank you, Anant. I want you to get all the papers together and send them across to Lodhi Road. I will have RAW take over the investigation from here onwards. The other man in the room, known by his designation of Secretary-Research in the cabinet secretariat, nodded.

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    Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) HQ, CGO, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

    S ecretary-Research or Secretary-R is a designation for the Director of RAW. He reports on the day-to-day activities of the agency to the National Security Advisor (NSA) while the organisation comes under the Prime Minister’s office. He has the Additional Director, RAW and the Director General Security reporting to him. The DG Security is in charge of the ARC and the SFF, a specialised paramilitary force. The Additional Director has Joint Directors of various desks, Area I−Pakistan, Area II−China and so on, reporting in to him. Also reporting in is the Joint Director of Electronics Intelligence Division and Internal Security.
    He went through the reports received from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). After he had read the entire document, he called in the Additional Director and the head of Area I. Then he made a call to the Army Headquarters and spoke to a senior officer there. His next call was to the head of IB and a brief discussion ended with pleasantries being exchanged. As he disconnected, the line, his personal assistant walked in.
    “Jayesh, have a mail sent to the Chief of MI and the IB. Have them send across contact details of the men they are designatingfor the investigation I have just discussed with their chiefs. Close it by end of day.” Jayesh nodded and informed that ADG and JD were waiting outside. Secretary-R asked them to be shown in. Once all were seated, he briefed them about the meeting with the NSA and the NIA presentation.
    “I want you to put your best man on this. I have a letter from the NSA which allows us to use any resource to get to the bottom of this and let me know if there is something brewing here. I have spoken to the General at the MI as well as the IB. They have the assets and ability to help contribute to this investigation. My PA will mail you the contact details of the designated men from their end. Work with them, use their assets and