It was the first week of May 1983 at Leh in Ladakh. The Sixteen Border Roads Task Force (BRTF or TF for short) was deployed at Leh for the construction and maintenance of roads, advance landing grounds and air fields. The BRTF was commanded by Lt Col S G Bombatkere. The BRTF was then under the command and control of project Beacon stationed at Srinagar in Kashmir Valley. The project was commanded by Brig Y P Khurana (Later Lieutenant General). I was functioning as an administrative officer of BRTF.

That was the time when Rawalpindi and Beijing were jointly constructing a new strategic highway to provide ground access from China to Arabian Sea waters via Pakistan. The new route passes very close to the Siachin Glacier, the world's highest battlefield of today.

At a point of time, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was in urgent need of new snow-cutting machines like schmits, rolbas etc. The existing ones had outlived their life and the new ones proposed to be purchased has to be selected by a board of officers. The board had assembled at Leh, the headquarters of the BRTF. The board meeting was being attended by the representatives of the foreign manufacturers of snow-cutting machines, their Indian marketing agents, technical officers of BRTF and the directorate.

The assembly of the board and its proceedings proceeded in normal course. The delegates from outside came by Indian Airlines flights from Delhi and Chandigarh. The tickets were booked well in advance.

Once the deliberations were over in about a week's time, the delegates as well as officers were ready to leave the place. The road communication was yet to be restored by clearing heavy layers of snow accumulated over Zozila Pass. All participants had, therefore, to travel by air. The officers heading towards Chandigarh or Delhi went by Air Force flights. The delegates of the firms returning by that route were accommodated in the direct Delhi-Chandigarh-Leh flight. The Chief Engineer was, however, to fly back to Srinagar. There was no Air Force flight in that direction at that point of time. The Indian Air Lines flights, though operating regularly, were over-booked. The BRTF Subedar Major who was entrusted with the task of booking a ticket for Chief Engineer reported that there was no seat available on the IAC flight, not only on the proposed departure day but for a week ahead. I was called upon to exercise my clout with the local official for allotment of a seat out of turn.

Mr R K Bakshi was the manager of IAC at Leh. I approached him for allotment of a seat for our Chief in the next morning flight - out of turn and out of the way. He asked, "How can I allow any one to jump the long queue?" Mr Bakshi posed unconcerned. I felt uncomfortable and argued that BRO was maintaining the Leh air field and for that reason alone the IAC ought to accommodate the organisation's head in their flight, especially when there is urgency. Mr Bakshi was still not moved. I asked him "Suppose we declare the air field unfit for flights immediately."

Mr Bakshi raised his head from his files, looked at me squarely eye-to-eye and shouted, "you want to blackmail me"?

Thinking for a moment, I realised the truth of Mr Bakshi's allegation. I was caught on a wrong foot! What next?

I lost no time for my next unplanned but right step to apologise and could manage to say, " Sorry, Mr Bakshi, that was not my intention. What I really intended to impress was that our Chief's flying to Srinagar next morning is very urgent. And, not only Mr Noatay, but the organisation as whole will be obliged if the Brigadier could be accommodated in the next morning flight- some how, any how".

Good sense prevailed. The IAC boss relented and issued the air ticket for which I was pleading.