By Mabinty M. Kamara
A book titled ‘Operation Khukri: the untold story of Indian Army's bravest peacekeeping mission abroad’ narrating the experience of an Indian author who happens to be the commander of a detachment of 233 soldiers, surrounded by rebel forces during a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Sierra Leone, has been officially launched in India. The event took place yesterday 15 July 2021.
In 2000, the UN intervened in restoring peace to the country, and the two companies of the Indian Army were inducted into UNAMSIL in December 1999 and by mid April 2000 were deployed deep inside the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) held territory at Daru and Kailahun. The troops comprised a battalion minus two companies in Daru and two companies in Kailahun, some 400 kilometres from the capital, Freetown.
However, the peaceful mission later became tense between the Indian soldiers and the RUF rebels in Kailahun, with the Indian peacekeepers cordoned off for 75 days without supplies. The operation, according to the author, lasted from 13-16 July.
The book is published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI), and is co-authored by Major General Rajpal Punia and his daughter Damini Punia.
Speaking to Politico via email, Major General Rajpal Punia, who was the then Commanding Officer of the 58th Gurkha Rifles, narrated how him and his troops survived the ambush of the RUF in prolonged jungle warfare twice, and returned with all 233 soldiers.
“It was my commitment to my soldiers that one day the world would know about the 75 days ordeal that we underwent at Kailahun as a result of the misadventure by the RUF. We were empty stomachs but still retained our spirits to fight the rebels of the RUF, who in fact had assassinated the soldier within each one of us. The humiliation we went through overpowered our hunger and resonated into chivalry on the 15th of July 2000, the day we shouted our War Cry - Bharat Mata ki Jay (Long Live Mother India) and fought hard,” he said.
He added that his inspiration is to highlight to the world the dilemma of being a soldier as well as a human being.
“I was a United Nations soldier on an assignment for peacekeeping. We had gone to Sierra Leone to put an end to the ongoing civil war that had survived a full decade with thousands of innocent Sierra Leoneans sacrificing their lives and an equal number losing either of their limbs. Even today when I look back, I feel and wish that I should have been less of a soldier and more of a human. However, I am content that Operation Khukri opened the gates for a long lasting peace in Sierra Leone,” he added.
He said he has written the book to serve as the messiah for Indo-Sierra Leone "people to people" cooperation, noting that India is the largest democracy in the world and has a huge role in restoring democratic rights for the people of Sierra Leone. “I wish to take it forward in the future and be the advocate for Indo-Sierra Leone Cooperation.”
The book is dedicated to Sergeant Havildar Krishan Kumar, the only soldier who lost his life during the operation. Kumar, according to Major General Punia was deployed at Daru during the operation and was part of the link-up force which moved from Daru as the driver of the ammunition vehicle. Post the link-up at Pendembu on 15 July 2000, the column was retreating back the following day, and that's when a 'RPG' rocket hit him in a RUF ambush at Kuiva. Despite being seriously injured he reportedly managed to drive his vehicle out of the RUF ambush and saved many lives.
“Had Krishan Kumar not displayed this conspicuous act of bravery, the ammunition vehicle would have caught fire in the ambush and we would have lost half of our force,” he explained.
However later died at the Daru Military hospital after a surgery was performed on him.
A monument had been constructed by the Indian Army at the Moa Barracks location in Daru in his honour.
Copyright © Politico Online (16/07/21)
