On completion of 25 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the country is remembering the martyrdom of brave soldiers. Meanwhile, Aaj Tak had an exclusive interview with Kargil War hero Lieutenant Nachiketa in Dras itself. Aaj Tak learned from him how he got trapped in Pakistan’s captivity and what he had to endure during his captivity.
Lieutenant Nachiketa told Aaj Tak that when the Kargil operation had just started, he was flying MiG-27 fighter aircraft. His squadron was of 4 aircraft, which had received orders to destroy a target. At that time the speed of his aircraft was around 900 kilometers per hour. At this speed, when the rocket is fired, the entire program from pressing the button to firing is completed in one minute.
Attack was done at speed of 900
Lieutenant Nachiketa told that they had to do a dive pattern attack, in which a dive is made on the target and then the rocket is fired at a speed of 900. After this the ship is turned around and comes back to its place. He did the same along with his leader. While returning after the attack, our ship was climbing upwards. During this time his engine flamed out. At that time, fighter jets did not have two engines like today’s modern aircraft.
Ejected and reached the captivity of PAK
After the engine flames out, there is a process to start it again. Lieutenant Nachiketa completed that process. But due to high altitude the engine did not start again. Then he saw that his fighter jet was rapidly approaching the hills. He asked to eject immediately. If they had not done so, the plane could have entered the mountain and they would have been ejected.
Pakistan tortured in every way
After ejection, his parachute landed in the occupied area of Pakistan. 4 to 5 Pakistani soldiers came there. Lieutenant Nachiketa had a micro pistol at that time, which had 8 firing rounds. After their firing ended, Pakistani soldiers took them prisoner. In Pakistan’s captivity, he was subjected to a lot of pain both physically and mentally. A lot of torture was done to obtain intelligence. But he didn’t even say a word. Then he started thinking that death would have been easier than this.
How did Nachiketa escape from prison?
During the Kargil war, Nachiketa was posted in the ninth squadron of the Indian Army. This squadron was deployed in the war-torn Batalik sector. During the Kargil war, Indian Air Force fighter pilot Nachiketa was assigned the task of flying MIG 27 in ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ conducted by the Indian Air Force. At that time his age was 26 years. The date was 27th May. When Nachiketa was given the responsibility of firing the rocket at a height of 17 thousand feet. Where he fired 80mm rockets from a height of 17 feet. Meanwhile, the engine of his plane MIG 27 broke down. After which he had to eject. He came down with the help of parachute. The place where he landed was the Pakistani border. Where he was surrounded by the Pakistani Army.
Within some time, the Pakistani Army took him prisoner and sent him to Rawalpindi jail. After which the Pakistani Army tortured him both physically and mentally for 3 to 4 days continuously. Pakistani Army was trying to extract information about Indian Army from him, but he refused to tell anything. Pakistan had already lost to India during the Kargil war. In such a situation, the news of Nachiketa imprisoned in Pakistan was making headlines in the international media. After which there was a lot of pressure on Pakistan and after just 8 days, the Pakistani Army handed over Nachiketa to the International Committee of the Red Cross.