Operation X, written by Capt MNR Samant and Sandeep Unnithan is a tale of naval commando operations, jointly undertaken by the Indian Navy and Mukti Bahini in the Liberation War. The Operation was conceptualized by the then Chief of Indian Navy, Admiral SM Nanda and Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mihir K Roy and executed by Capt MNR Samant. Over 450 naval commandos were trained and infiltrated into erstwhile East Pakistan to disrupt the Pakistani military and logistics lines of supply by destroying water craft, jetties and marine infrastructure so that Pakistani forces could not resupply themselves, which ultimately led to their swift capitulation in 13 days of War. Along with Commando operations, the book also talks about the raid on Mongla port by gunboats Padma and Polash, the two gunboats provided by Indian Navy with a mixed Indian and Bangladeshi crew.
The Naval Commando Operation X or NCO(X) was part of ‘Operation Jackpot’, which entailed covert training and equipping of the Mukti Bahini. Overall, between August and November 1971, the commandos sank/disabled 100,000 tons of enemy shipping and completely blocked the ports of East Pakistan. In sheer scale, this is the largest cover operation undertaken anywhere in the world after World War II. The story, which remained untold for 48 years, was first released in English in 2019. It has been compiled from personal notes of Capt MNR Samant and first hand accounts of Indian Naval Personnel and Muktijoddhas who participated in the operations. It was co-written by noted author and journalist Sandeep Unnithan in a readable, excitingly paced language.
The event to launch Bangla edition of this remarkable book was graced by H. E. AKM Mozammel Haq, Minister, Minstry of Liberation War Affairs as the Chief Guest and H. E. Swapan Bhattacharjee, State Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Developement and Co-operatives as the Special Guest besides Indian and Bangladeshi veterans who were part of these heoric operations and the co-author Sandeep Unnithan.