Operation Mand

Avtar Singh Brahma was a Sikh kharku who had founded the group Tat Khalsa.^[2] He quickly grew to prominence by launching constant attacks on CRPF, BSF, Police, and Army patrols.^[3] Brahma centered his group and operation in the Mand region which is the riverbank land along the Beas.^[4][5] Brahma would be dubbed the "King of Mand"^[6] and became the de facto ruler of the region,^[7] which covers an area of 240 square kilometres (93 sq mi).^[4][8]

On 21 July 1986, Operation Mand would be launched. The Operation was led and planned by KPS Gill and was approved by Julio Riberio.^[9] About 30 companies of security forces assisted by helicopters, bulldozers and mechanized boats, were deployed for the operation.^[4][8] Brahma operated 5 groups of 25–30 operatives.^[8]

The operation did not go as expected for the Indian forces. Thousands of police and paramilitary forces surrounded the Mand region and closed in on the Tat Khalsa men. According to Avtar Singh, he and his fellow Tat Khalsa members clashed with and repulsed an attacking force of officers and paramilitary, with the attacking force suffering high casualties. Avtar Singh also claims to have shot down a paramilitary helicopter. Both helicopters are reported to have retreated after this.^[10][11] The battle continued for some time, but eventually, the security forces fell back for the night. Avtar Singh Brahma and fellow Tat Khalsa members managed to escape at night.^[4][11] The operation lasted for 40 hours.^[4]