India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related. The most&nbsp;recent example of assistance was witnessed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where India provided valuable aid to Maldives in the form of vaccines.

New Delhi has a history of aiding the Maldives, an island nation with a population of nearly 500,000, including during the devastating 2004 tsunami.

But perhaps the most exceptional illustration of India's commitment to its neighbour was when Male was hit with a security crisis during the 1988 coup.

On November 3, 1988, a group of Maldivian rebels led by Abdullah Luthufi, and Sri Lanka's People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) attempted to overthrow the government of then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the small island nation in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

President Gayoom's government quickly sought assistance from the international community, including then-Soviet Union, Singapore, Pakistan, US, UK and India.&nbsp;

But the one country that stood the test of&nbsp;times for Maldives was India.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-govt-must-make-stronger-statement-to-repair-ties-with-india-says-maldives-oppo-leader-amid-row-678687">‘Maldives govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India,’ says Maldives oppo leader amid row</a>

New Delhi, within 16 hours of the SOS received from President Gayoom for assistance, rescued the leader.&nbsp;

Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and any political turmoil in the region could have broader implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The situation was tense.&nbsp;

In response to the request for assistance, India swiftly launched 'Operation Cactus' on the night of November 3, 1988, when the coup was attempted.&nbsp;

<h2>How India went in&nbsp;</h2>

Speaking with WION, Lieutenant General (Retd) Vinod Bhatia, who was then brigade major of the 50 Independent Parachute Brigade,&nbsp;gave a first-hand account of the coup attempt by rebels to overthrow the Male government and how India thwarted it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gayoom, by that time, had already faced two coup attempts: in 1980 and 1983.&nbsp;

General Bhatia told WION, "They staged the coup when the President of Maldives was to come to India on November 3, 1988. On November 3 morning, Male was taken over and the headquarters were surrounded. TV stations and radio stations were taken over, just like it happens during any coup."

On that day, 80 PLOTE fighters and some locals, armed with heavy weaponry, seized control of Male, targeting key infrastructure.&nbsp;

In response, a crisis committee in Delhi led by then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to help the Male government.

The 50th Independent Parachute Brigade was activated in Agra, and Air Force and Parachute Brigade units were ready for deployment.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-lakshadweep-to-get-new-airport-as-part-of-overhaul-to-boost-tourism-678627">India’s Lakshadweep to get new airport as part of overhaul to boost tourism</a>

Two Ilyushin IL-76s landed in Maldives at 9:30 pm, carrying Indian soldiers and then-High Commissioner to Maldives Arun Banerjee.

"There were 80-odd people involved in the coup. The moment they saw us landing there, they just vanished. They were firing, they realised the game was over," General Bhatia told WION.&nbsp;

Eventually, paratroopers secured the airport. &nbsp;

"We went in at the invitation of the president. Our task was to rescue the Maldivian president. We got the first intimation around 10-10:30 am and the para brigade launched the operation, and we could rescue the president by 2 am in the morning.... within 16 hours. Then we were told to restore normalcy in Maldives."&nbsp;

Later, the rebels "hijacked a ship called MV Progress Light. They took that ship away. Some of them took boats and went away and we chased them. By 8 November, we got everyone back."

The Navy, under commander of the brigade Farouk Bulsara, ordered to open fire which damaged the fleeing ship. Indian Navy ships INS Betwa and INS Godavari intercepted it, following which the rebels surrendered.&nbsp;

"Every military operation is inherently dangerous. There was a cold start and this was a totally blind one. We had very little intelligence but that's what we are trained and meant to do," General Bhatia said, adding that after the operation, India's intervention was highly appreciated.

The coup led to the deaths of 19 people, while 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested.

Four, including Luthufee, received initially a death sentence, later commuted at PM Rajiv Gandhi's request.

<h2>A pivotal moment in India's diplomatic history&nbsp;</h2>

Indian forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, conducted the successful military intervention to quell the rebellion and reinstate the legitimate government in the Maldives.

The swift and decisive action by India is often hailed as a successful example of regional cooperation and intervention to maintain stability in the South Asian region.&nbsp;

The operation showed India's ability to respond to a crisis in its immediate neighbourhood and demonstrated its commitment to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring nations.

The Maldives coup and India's intervention in 1988 further strengthened diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;

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"India is the only nation where whenever we have helped out our neighbours, we have never made a base, we have always come out. Whether it is Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. So we are one nation where we are friendly to our neighbours."&nbsp;

"Even in 1971 war, we vacated.. we came back to our country. On 17 Nov, we were out of Maldives," General Bhatia added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
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India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related.

India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related. The most recent example of assistance was witnessed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where India provided valuable aid to Maldives in the form of vaccines. New Delhi has a history of aiding the Maldives, an island nation with a population of nearly 500,000, including during the devastating 2004 tsunami. But perhaps the most exceptional illustration of India's commitment to its neighbour was when Male was hit with a security crisis during the 1988 coup. On November 3, 1988, a group of Maldivian rebels led by Abdullah Luthufi, and Sri Lanka's People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) attempted to overthrow the government of then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the small island nation in the Indian Ocean. President Gayoom's government quickly sought assistance from the international community, including then-Soviet Union, Singapore, Pakistan, US, UK and India. But the one country that stood the test of times for Maldives was India. Also Read | ‘Maldives govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India,’ says Maldives oppo leader amid row New Delhi, within 16 hours of the SOS received from President Gayoom for assistance, rescued the leader. Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and any political turmoil in the region could have broader implications. The situation was tense. In response to the request for assistance, India swiftly launched 'Operation Cactus' on the night of November 3, 1988, when the coup was attempted. How India went in Speaking with WION, Lieutenant General (Retd) Vinod Bhatia, who was then brigade major of the 50 Independent Parachute Brigade, gave a first-hand account of the coup attempt by rebels to overthrow the Male government and how India thwarted it. Gayoom, by that time, had already faced two coup attempts: in 1980 and 1983. General Bhatia told WION, "They staged the coup when the President of Maldives was to come to India on November 3, 1988. On November 3 morning, Male was taken over and the headquarters were surrounded. TV stations and radio stations were taken over, just like it happens during any coup." On that day, 80 PLOTE fighters and some locals, armed with heavy weaponry, seized control of Male, targeting key infrastructure. In response, a crisis committee in Delhi led by then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to help the Male government. The 50th Independent Parachute Brigade was activated in Agra, and Air Force and Parachute Brigade units were ready for deployment. Also Read | India’s Lakshadweep to get new airport as part of overhaul to boost tourism Two Ilyushin IL-76s landed in Maldives at 9:30 pm, carrying Indian soldiers and then-High Commissioner to Maldives Arun Banerjee. "There were 80-odd people involved in the coup. The moment they saw us landing there, they just vanished. They were firing, they realised the game was over," General Bhatia told WION. Eventually, paratroopers secured the airport. "We went in at the invitation of the president. Our task was to rescue the Maldivian president. We got the first intimation around 10-10:30 am and the para brigade launched the operation, and we could rescue the president by 2 am in the morning.... within 16 hours. Then we were told to restore normalcy in Maldives." Later, the rebels "hijacked a ship called MV Progress Light. They took that ship away. Some of them took boats and went away and we chased them. By 8 November, we got everyone back." The Navy, under commander of the brigade Farouk Bulsara, ordered to open fire which damaged the fleeing ship. Indian Navy ships INS Betwa and INS Godavari intercepted it, following which the rebels surrendered. "Every military operation is inherently dangerous. There was a cold start and this was a totally blind one. We had very little intelligence but that's what we are trained and meant to do," General Bhatia said, adding that after the operation, India's intervention was highly appreciated. The coup led to the deaths of 19 people, while 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested. Four, including Luthufee, received initially a death sentence, later commuted at PM Rajiv Gandhi's request. A pivotal moment in India's diplomatic history Indian forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, conducted the successful military intervention to quell the rebellion and reinstate the legitimate government in the Maldives. The swift and decisive action by India is often hailed as a successful example of regional cooperation and intervention to maintain stability in the South Asian region. The operation showed India's ability to respond to a crisis in its immediate neighbourhood and demonstrated its commitment to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring nations. The Maldives coup and India's intervention in 1988 further strengthened diplomatic ties between the two countries. Watch | Major boost to India-UK security ties: India, UK sign deal on Cadet Exchange Program × "India is the only nation where whenever we have helped out our neighbours, we have never made a base, we have always come out. Whether it is Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. So we are one nation where we are friendly to our neighbours." "Even in 1971 war, we vacated.. we came back to our country. On 17 Nov, we were out of Maldives," General Bhatia added.

How India thwarted 1988 coup attempt in Maldives: Indian army veteran Vinod Bhatia speaks to WION

An Australian veteran has been charged with murder following an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. The now 41-year-old who was later identified as former Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment trooper Oliver Schulz is the first Australian serviceman to be charged with a war crime under the country’s law.&nbsp;

Schulz was arrested in New South Wales and charged with the war crime of murder, said a statement Australian Federal Police. It added, “It will be alleged he murdered an Afghan man while deployed to Afghanistan”. The probe, which was carried out by the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), was set up in 2021 to investigate the alleged war crimes.&nbsp;

This was following a four-year inquiry led by an Army Reserve major general and NSW Supreme Court judge Paul Brereton. In 2020, they released the Brereton Report which found evidence that Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.&nbsp;

Among SAS and Commando Regiments troops who served in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, 19 current and former soldiers face a criminal investigation, as per the report. However, Schulz is the first arrest linked to the inquiry.&nbsp;

The 41-year-old is expected to appear before a Sydney court on Tuesday, as per media reports and if convicted he could be facing a potential sentence of life in prison.&nbsp;

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) broadcast a helmet camera video in its documentary Four Corners in 2020 that reportedly showed Schulz who was referred to as Soldier C shooting an Afghan man in a wheat field in Uruzgan province in 2012.&nbsp;

According to reports, more than 30,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan during the 20 years of presence in the country up until the withdrawal two years ago. At least 41 military personnel from the Australian army have been killed while fighting alongside the United States and allied forces against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups.&nbsp;

Former colleagues of Benjamin Roberts-Smith, a former corporal who was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, accused him of unlawful treatment of prisoners as well as illegal killings which he has denied. Meanwhile, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has blamed these crimes on the “warrior culture” among some of the soldiers which went unchecked.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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An Australian veteran has been charged with murder following an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. The now 41-year-old who was later identified as former Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment trooper Oliver Schulz is the first Australian serviceman to be charged with a war crime under the country’s law.

An Australian veteran has been charged with murder following an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. The now 41-year-old who was later identified as former Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment trooper Oliver Schulz is the first Australian serviceman to be charged with a war crime under the country’s law. Schulz was arrested in New South Wales and charged with the war crime of murder, said a statement Australian Federal Police. It added, “It will be alleged he murdered an Afghan man while deployed to Afghanistan”. The probe, which was carried out by the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), was set up in 2021 to investigate the alleged war crimes. This was following a four-year inquiry led by an Army Reserve major general and NSW Supreme Court judge Paul Brereton. In 2020, they released the Brereton Report which found evidence that Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians. Among SAS and Commando Regiments troops who served in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, 19 current and former soldiers face a criminal investigation, as per the report. However, Schulz is the first arrest linked to the inquiry. The 41-year-old is expected to appear before a Sydney court on Tuesday, as per media reports and if convicted he could be facing a potential sentence of life in prison. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) broadcast a helmet camera video in its documentary Four Corners in 2020 that reportedly showed Schulz who was referred to as Soldier C shooting an Afghan man in a wheat field in Uruzgan province in 2012. According to reports, more than 30,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan during the 20 years of presence in the country up until the withdrawal two years ago. At least 41 military personnel from the Australian army have been killed while fighting alongside the United States and allied forces against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups. Former colleagues of Benjamin Roberts-Smith, a former corporal who was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, accused him of unlawful treatment of prisoners as well as illegal killings which he has denied. Meanwhile, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has blamed these crimes on the “warrior culture” among some of the soldiers which went unchecked. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Australian soldier detained over alleged war crime committed in Afghanistan

Megan Helsel, a kayaking wildlife specialist, has her dream job, and T'angelo Magee is making headway toward his, a commercial pilot. Both say work is central to their identity. Both are disabled. Americans with disabilities, physical and cognitive, in recent months have been joining the workforce at a faster pace than those without disabilities, according to data collected by organizations that work with the disabled.

Paralyzed Army veteran works toward becoming a pilot

Cricketer <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/yes-i-made-enemies-but-i-slept-in-peace-gautam-gambhir-182607">Gautam Gambhir</a> Saturday urged the Ministry of Defence to help a man, claiming to be war veteran, after he spotted him begging in Connaught Place here.

The ace cricketer posted a picture of the man on Twitter and said that he could not get support from the Army due to "technical reasons".

"He's Mr Peethambaran, who served in the Indian Army in 1965 &amp;1971 wars which can be verified by his ID. He claims due to technical reasons he can't get support from d Army," Gambhir tweeted.

"I'd urge @adgpi @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD to intervene as he is begging at A block Connaught Place," he said in the tweet.

Responding to the tweet, the defence ministry assured a "quick and complete" response.&nbsp;

"We appreciate the concern raised by you and assure that the response will be quick and complete. @adgpi," the defence spokesperson tweeted.&nbsp;

Cricketer Gautam Gambhir Saturday urged the Ministry of Defence to help a man, claiming to be war veteran, after he spotted him begging in Connaught Place here. The ace cricketer posted a picture of the man on Twitter and said that he could not get support from the Army due to "technical reasons".

Cricketer Gautam Gambhir Saturday urged the Ministry of Defence to help a man, claiming to be war veteran, after he spotted him begging in Connaught Place here. The ace cricketer posted a picture of the man on Twitter and said that he could not get support from the Army due to "technical reasons". "He's Mr Peethambaran, who served in the Indian Army in 1965 &1971 wars which can be verified by his ID. He claims due to technical reasons he can't get support from d Army," Gambhir tweeted. "I'd urge @adgpi @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD to intervene as he is begging at A block Connaught Place," he said in the tweet. Responding to the tweet, the defence ministry assured a "quick and complete" response. "We appreciate the concern raised by you and assure that the response will be quick and complete. @adgpi," the defence spokesperson tweeted.

Gautam Gambhir tweets picture of Army veteran begging, defence ministry assures 'quick' action

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