It was the 16th day after his wedding when K A Sebastian, a native of Kuracheriyil in Athirampuzha of Kottayam, received urgent orders to return to NSG duty. The devastating news of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination had just broken. Without revealing the full gravity of the situation to his wife, he quietly left. It would take another 16 days before she would learn that her husband had been part of a high-risk, top-secret operation.

Sebastian’s journey as a National Security Guard (NSG) commando is marked by countless daring missions. “Everything was for the country — there is no space for the self in it,” he says, his voice reflecting the deep patriotism that shaped his life. One of the most gripping chapters in his career was the manhunt for those accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, which inspired Major Ravi’s film Mission 90 Days. The chase scene where the accused Murugan is captured on the streets of Chennai? In real life, it was Sebastian who nabbed him.

“Major Ravi sir led the team. We nearly lost Sivarsan a few times,” Sebastian recalls.

Pulwama: Face-to-face with terror

One of Sebastian’s most harrowing memories is from Pulwama. The NSG received intelligence that militants were hiding in a remote village. Disguised as locals, Sebastian and his NSG team — Unit 32 — moved in under the cover of darkness, staying in separate houses overnight. But the militants, growing suspicious, took several villagers hostage — unknowingly including the disguised commandos.

At dawn, about 40 hostages were lined up in an open area for inspection. Fifth in line stood Major Ravi, and sixth was Sebastian. When a militant lifted Major Ravi’s kurta, the barrel of an assault rifle with the Indian flag insignia came into view. In that instant, Major Ravi sprang into action. What followed was a swift operation that neutralised all 12 militants. The scene was later dramatised in Major Ravi’s film Keerthichakra.

15 years of soldiering, 6 years in shadows

Sebastian served in the Indian Army for 15 years, six of which were with the NSG. His career spanned numerous operations across Kashmir, Punjab and Sri Lanka. He served under legendary officers like K P S Gill and Major Ravi — spending most of his tenure under the latter.

One operation in Punjab stands out; after militants hiding in a sugarcane field set it on fire, Sebastian narrowly escaped, only to regroup and finish the mission. He was involved in over 100 direct action missions in the state.

Joining the Indian Army in 1980, Sebastian served with the NSG from 1989 to 1994 and retired in 1996. During his training period, he lost a finger — but he never let it hold him back.

A quiet life after war

After retirement, Sebastian spent 20 years working in the security wing of Kottayam Medical College. He also worked with Major Ravi’s military training programme for six years. Now 69, he lives a peaceful life in Athirampuzha with his wife Roji and their children — Hena, Thomas and Antony.