Katchal is a sleepy weather beaten 175 sq. km Island, a vital member of strategic Nicobar archipelago, lying amidst Andaman sea, in the stormy Bay of Bengal. The complete local scenario changed with the disembarking of ethnic Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka ferried across by Indian federal government, not finding favor with local indigenous settlers.
These repatriates were planted here for running a spacious government run rubber plantation. Low wages and segregated isolated living made them victims of socioeconomic restraints, leading to prevalence of general discontentment. Their protests assumed alarming proportions with threatening postures towards the management and leading to disruption of essential services, thus bringing the entire island to almost a grinding halt. As a last resort police intervention became necessary for restoration of absolute normalcy.
Besides the area magistrate, another one was specially shipped from Port Blair to assist, advice and guide the local police. Katchal guest house had a paltry accommodation of just two rooms, situated on sea shore with no running water or air-conditioning, electric power available just between both 6 to 8 AM and PM.
The roaring sound of salty sea waves striking against the shore made disturbing noises, while the moisture laden air remained heavy with mixture of salt. The sole source of water was a shallow well, water needed to be drawn out by a bucket attached with a rope. The aerial attacks of healthy mosquitoes were lethal plus fairly widespread, these tiny creatures mercilessly displayed extra robustness around sunrise and sunset. They were not only capable of delivering ordinary malaria, but catastrophic cerebral malaria as well.
Ram Chander , executive magistrate from Port Blair, was a novice having no experience of working with police, while dealing with law and order situations. He was to accompany police force for early morning swoop for arresting the renegade Tamil workers from forested precincts of rubber plantation. Being a absolute green horn in these tough Islands, found himself exactly like fish out of water. The rubber board management had been sounded about the impending early morning police action.
In such a atmosphere of uncertainty and fear plus prevailing hostile weather he choose to be my room mate, to which I did not object simply for sake of company.
Having no inkling of what was to transpire very soon. Our friend was plunged in a state of jittery hallucinatory delirium. In spite of my best assurances he harbored feared, least Tamils attacked guest house at night and killed him during sleep. In eventuality of his demise, who would take care of his minor children and his beautiful devoted beloved wife? His nerve racking soliloquizing soon assumed alarming proportions, turning into intolerable, discordant jarring jargon.This never ending disquieting was getting on my nerves but regardless he kept on pestering me.
Assuming enough was enough, for terminating this nerve wracking annoyance, a practical prank cropped in my mischievous mind. Feigning total innocence, I sneakily conveyed him about being a habitual sleep-walker with a history of inadvertently roughing up persons sleeping in my room. This was sufficient to trigger a heavy mental avalanche of fright into his already shaky brain. Prompting him to seek refuge in the adjacent vacant room.
While he was in a state of shock, I hurriedly hounded him to sign a few undated forms justifying action,”for use of force on the unruly crowd”, which he obliged unquestioningly. Hurriedly he bolting the room safely from within. Engrossing himself in reciting prayers, specially invoking “hanuman chalisa” to save him from menacing situation. Certainly he would not have slept even a single minute in these uncertain sinister circumstances. Whereas, I enjoyed a sound comfortable sleep, waking up invigoratingly fresh and cheerful the next morning.
Early dawn we arrived at rubber plantation for arresting the mutinous Tamil ring leaders, spearheading this agitation. Our “knight in shining armor ” remaining hurdled in a police vehicle securely parked outside main gate, sporting a heavy protective jacket, a bullet proof helmet with a visor, holding an over sized baton. Two bodyguards with automatic weapons, cum tear smoke equipment stood ready to protect the delicate honor and life of Ram Chander, supposed to be our man Friday, our potential savior and guide.
At that point of time I could fully appreciate and comprehend meaning of the grand maxim, ” Between the Devil and the deep Sea “.
(HPS Virk , Author of the article , is a retired Senior Police Officer . Article is based on his personal experience, during year 1983, while he was posted at Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
