Check out this article written by the first ever embedded reporter, Rekha
Shrestha, who accompanied the newly raised RNA Ranger Bn on operations.
"It's a tough grind for Rangers, 24 hrs" Rekha Shrestha (Background story from which an extract was printed in The
Himalayan Times on 17 February)
Bharatpur
These purposeful-looking men trudge through bushes over rugged mountains in
the country, days and nights. Charlie Company already conducted a
fortnight-long operation in Dhading before going Arghakhachi to carry out a
similar assignment for entire December. Then the company went on for two
more weeks to Gulmi. And when the soldiers were just expecting to return to
their barracks and hang up their boots for a few days, they were picked up
for still another operation, this time in the mid western region of the
country. Now they are moving in heavy mortars, some light arms and logistics
for combing Mahabharat range. Their orders: Destroy the rebel hideouts,
secure the nearby villages to neutralize the Maoists' plans and to bring
back a degree of normalcy to the lives of the civilian population.
The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Rangers, have cut their teeth as an elite
force in the insurgency stricken Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, conducting such
strenuous nonstop operations for months on end. "The Rangers are brought
into places where there is a threat perception to other RNA units and it has
been highly effective. The Rangers are doing a marvelous job," says
Brigadier General Dilip Rana, the Special Forces Commander of RNA 10
Brigade. Since they are only of a battalion's strength and receiving
requests from all over the country they have never much time to rest and to
relax. The Alpha Company saw action for 11 months without a break. The
physical exhaustion and the constant strain of keeping concentrated over
long periods of time can sometimes leave the faces of these soldiers tired
and devoid of all expression.
The Rangers are of course better equipped with more sophisticated weapons
than their comrades of the regular troops, what gives them more
self-confidence. The basis of the soldiers' high morale however is a result
of excellent leadership, training, discipline, camaraderie and patriotism.
During operations officers and the rank and file resemble an intact family.
"We are mobilized by the Headquarters, but as Rangers we are called the Army
of the Army", says a soldier named Ramesh Kumar Pandey, "we are sent to
those places where there is aggressive Maoist movement."
So without complaints they sometimes go for days, even for weeks without
cooked food and have gone without water for up to 24 hours. Meanwhile,
scratch a Maoist militant and he'll say he is "fighting a people's war."
Also, ask any RNA soldier and he will firmly declare that "the army is
fighting for the people." Asked what is motivating him to fight without
rest, Lance Corporal Binod Tamang firmly says: "The country is in crisis, it
needs us and we are the professionals to fight the battle. Thinking about my
enemy motivates me to endure hardship and continue without any complaint."
One night during the Arghakhachi operation Tamang together with his
lieutenant fell in the dark from about 80 ft, but luckily they became
entangled in a shrubbery of creepers as found in the jungle and were saved.
This, Tamang says, was "the most unforgettable moment" in his life.
Recalling such stories has become their favorite pastime. They never seemed
to get tired of sounding off about some adventures and heroic deeds they had
achieved, and the painful inevitable comrades lost and maimed. "It is not
that Rangers are different, but they do things differently", says one
officer. "We believe that success comes only if we take the right step at
the right time. Alpha company saved about a hundred thousand rupees out of
its ration money during the 11 months operation for what they bought
medicines, radio sets, assault vests and ropes to complement their
equipment. Some money was spent in civic activities to bring success to our
campaign of winning the hearts and minds of the people."
By January 2005, Rangers had killed 134 Maoists while losing 10 men during
31 operations in 38 districts since the unit's formation in 2003. It was
formed at the initiative of the Army Chief of Staff, General Pyar Jung
Thapa, himself the first RNA Ranger graduate of the US Ranger School. By now
the Mahabir Rangers battalion is helping train and raise the Singhanath
battalion as a commando unit. Even the US Army Special Forces team, who were
in Kathmandu to conduct a joint exercise, appreciated the RNA Rangers as the
best troops they had come across in Asia.
Operations, and by now legendary, battles in Pandaun and Beni, Dhading and
Arghakhachhi are only some of the few examples where the Rangers performed
outstandingly. The commanders insist that the Rangers are fighting hard and
since the commanding officer's focus is "on avoiding collateral damage at
all cost", they are doing a clean job. As goes a lieutenant's story: "After
the Krishnabhir incident, we got a tip-off about a group of Maoists hiding
out in Dhading. All the officers were eager to get to the chase, but someone
had to stay at the base with the big packs. Finally we agreed to choose the
assailant by drawing lots. Without even alerting anyone we climbed up the
cliff of the mountain, from where we were able to cause many casualties
among the Maoists."
Encountering Maoists or storming their hideouts depends not only upon
intelligence and planning but also on luck. "The Maoists have the advantage
as they are fighting a guerrilla war while we lack good local intelligence
networks. When they are not in action they are hiding amongst the civilian
population. So confrontation sometimes depends on mere luck, but we Rangers
are confident we will surprise them," said a Ranger commander, who preferred
to remain anonymous and is convinced of finally defeating the rebels. "The
Rangers have a destiny to fulfill and in the end they will be the ones to
turn the tide. The Maoists cannot sustain for ever."
After enduring days and weeks in rocky terrain and snowbound mountains these
soldiers crave for just a bit of comfort in life. "Enjoying some smaller
pleasures is the beauty of army life. For instance, operating in a
mountainous country like ours even strolling on the plains is a luxury for
us rangers," says an officer, who confessed he was longing for hot shower
and a cup of piping strong coffee before hitting the sack and boning up on
political science prior to shutting his peepers.
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