The Cantonment Conspiracy

by Manoj Mukund Naravane

Two officers fresh out of the National Defence Academy (NDA) get posted at a laid-back military garrison on the banks of the Ganga River in Western UP. Lieutenant Rohit Verma comes from an army background, knows the ropes and generally has it easy. Lieutenant Renuka Khatri, on the other hand, is from a civilian background, and from the first batch of girl cadets admitted to the NDA. They both have to prove that they are worthy of being army officers. During a welcome party at the officers' mess, one of the ladies is assaulted and the needle of suspicion falls on Rohit. A court of inquiry is ordered, with Renuka unearthing crucial evidence that points to more sinister connections. When one of the witnesses due to depose before the court is murdered, it not only absolves Rohit but also starts the hunt for the real killer. Initially sceptical, the commandant throws his weight behind the investigation, which as it unfolds, reveals similarities to events rooted in the past. In their hunt for the suspect, Rohit and Renuka are assisted by Rehmat, a local village girl. The trio of Rohit-Renuka-Rehmat (RRR) must race against time to catch the killer before he can strike again.