When I was 10 years old, I would dream of being an Undercover Agent for India. For me, it was adrenaline pumping occupation. We always assume Undercover Agents with cool gadgets, fights and the chase. Today, it’s time to uncover the reality of Undercover Agents! These amazing facts about RAW will help us to find out the truth of this field.
RAW’s motto is - ‘धर्मो रक्षति रक्षित:’ which means the Law protects when it is protected.
RAW came into existence on 21st September 1965. It exposed the gap in intelligence gathering methodology and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her government felt the need for an agency that would raise an alarm before the war and protect India. RAW’s first director was Rameshwar Nath Kao.
RAW officials undergo rigorous training. It includes the art of self-defence, technology handling and its secret language.
In 1984, in a very important call to the Indian military, RAW informed that Pakistan's operation 'Ababeel' was planning to capture the Saltoro ridge in Siachen. Thanks to the timely tip, the Indian army was able to launch operation 'Meghdoot', which forced the Pakistan army to retreat even before they could enter the territory.
RAW used to hire people from IB (Intelligence Bureau), Police and Indian Services only. Eventually, they started picking up random and most eligible candidates. Some of them were from the Universities, Villagers residing near LOCs etc. Ravinder Kaushik was one of the incredible RAW agents of India.
RAW had successfully tapped the communication between Pakistan army chief Parvez Musharraf and Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz which was about Pakistan’s involvement in the Kargil incursion.
RAW is always reserved from the purview of RTI (Right to Information) and Parliament of India’s questions.
RAW is answerable to the Prime Minister and the Joint Intelligence Committee. The head of RAW is called the “Secretary”. Currently, Samant Goel is heading the RAW.
RAW and Revenge: The real story of RAW Strategy
An Indian agent of RAW, Hashum Qureshi in Srinagar was working in league with the BSF. In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organisation launched the Al-Fatah organisation for the liberation of J&K from India. 36 of these members were arrested by J&K Police with the help of Indian Intelligence Agencies. In order to get more inside information, RAW decided to infiltrate Qureshi into this organization as he was well aware of the terrain of POK.
But he was won over by the Pakistani intelligence, the ISI. There, he was given the training to hijack a plane by a former Pakistani pilot. When he was sent back to India, the BSF arrested him and he cracked upon interrogation. The plan was to hijack the plane which would be piloted by Rajiv Gandhi, son of Mrs Indira Gandhi then Prime Minister of India. When this startling disclosure was reported to the head of BSF and RAW, India decided to beat Pakistan at their own game!
RAW and BSF persuaded Qureshi to work for them in order to save him from execution by the Indian authorities. According to the plan, Qureshi would hijack an Indian Airlines aircraft flying from Srinagar to Lahore. In return, he would demand the release of 36 members of the Al-Fatah who were in jail in India. A Fokker Friendship aircraft, Ganga, which was retired from Indian Airlines was inducted for this operation. The plane was hijacked and he was allowed a toy pistol and a fake grenade inside the plane. Pakistani authorities at Lahore allowed the plane to land when there were informed that it had been hijacked by the National Liberation Front of POK. All India Radio soon made the broadcast this hijack. The whole world, by now, was informed that the Pakistani government was behind this hijack. He demanded (as planned) the release of 36 Al-Fatah members in the custody of India, which India declined. Qureshi was given political asylum and hailed as a freedom fighter in Pakistan. He spoke to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Later the passengers of the plane came by road to India and the plane was burned by Pakistan.
Later, the Indian government banned all the flights of Pakistan flying over our territory and it exposed that the Pakistani state openly and actively supports terrorists.
Disclaimer: This information is for edutainment purposes. Most of the information is taken from this thread: India Times