Operation Cactus: India's Heroic Intervention in the Maldives Coup Attempt

In a historical account that continues to resonate with gratitude and fondness in the Maldives, we revisit the remarkable events of November 3 and 4, 1988, when India's swift and decisive intervention thwarted a coup attempt in the island nation, codenamed Operation Cactus. While recent sentiments of anti-India rhetoric have surfaced in the Maldives, the legacy of India's rescue mission remains a testament to enduring goodwill.

The 'India Out' campaign slogan of Maldives president-elect Mohamed Muizzu may have raised eyebrows, but it is a stark contrast to the widespread appreciation that Operation Cactus still enjoys among the people of the Maldives. Dr. Gulbin Sultana, a Maldives expert, aptly captures this sentiment, stating that regardless of other grievances, Operation Cactus remains unscathed from criticism.

The Maldives, a cluster of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, had endured a turbulent decade under the rule of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. In the 1980s, President Gayoom faced three coup attempts, the last of which would have succeeded without Indian intervention.

The 1988 coup plot was orchestrated by Maldivian businessman Abdullah Luthufee and Ahmed "Sagaru" Nasir, with the support of Uma Maheswaran, the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a militant Lankan Tamil organization. In the early hours of November 3, 80 PLOTE fighters, accompanied by a few Maldivian dissidents, arrived in Malé aboard Lankan freighters, armed to the teeth with heavy machine guns, AK-47s, grenades, and mortars. Their mission was to capture key infrastructure in the city, including the headquarters of the National Security Service (NSS), the Maldives' sole armed force. By noon, they had secured most of Malé, with President Gayoom taking refuge in a safe house.

As news of the coup reached the international community, distress signals were dispatched. India swiftly responded, with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi convening a crisis committee meeting by 9 am. The Indian Army's 50th Independent Parachute Brigade, under Brigadier Farukh Bulsara, was activated, and Colonel Subhash C Joshi's 6 Para was designated to lead the operation. By 3:30 pm, the Air Force's 44 Squadron and the paratroopers were at the airport, awaiting orders.

Two Ilyushin IL-76s, flying non-stop from Agra, landed at Hulhulé, Maldives' main airport, at approximately 9:30 pm local time. This dramatic arrival of Indian troops had an instant impact on the rebels, who overestimated their opponents' numbers and decided to retreat. The paratroopers secured the airport before proceeding to Malé, where they rescued President Gayoom.

The saga continued as the Indian Navy chased down the fleeing rebel ship, ultimately forcing the rebels to surrender. Although the attempted coup claimed 19 lives, the Indian intervention averted a larger catastrophe.
In the aftermath, 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested, interrogated, and put on trial in the Maldives. Four, including Luthufee, initially sentenced to death, had their sentences commuted at the request of PM Rajiv Gandhi.

Operation Cactus not only saved the Maldives from a perilous coup but also forged a lasting bond between India and its island neighbor. President-elect Muizzu, despite his initial anti-India rhetoric, acknowledged the importance of bilateral relations in a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner. As the Maldives navigates its political landscape, Operation Cactus remains a symbol of India's unwavering commitment to regional stability and goodwill.