Operation Khukri by Rajpal Punia & Damini Punia

Author:Rajpal Punia & Damini Punia [Punia, Major General Rajpal & Punia, Damini]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789354920981
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2021-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

It inspired me immensely, so much so that I felt a rush of energy inside me. The RUF soldier on duty joked with me, ‘Major, I hope you are going to come back. If not, it was lovely meeting you.’

I asked him who was escorting me and learnt that ‘Commander’ (which was also his name) was the escort Commander. It was an excellent start to a wonderful day since Kupoi was not accompanying me. Commander, who was actually a Section Commander, was a real jovial person. He, along with four RUF soldiers, arrived and shook hands with me in typical RUF style. We boarded the Gypsy to start our journey to Kailahun.

En route, I asked Commander about Kupoi and learnt that he had been sent on a special mission the previous night. I quietly thanked God, as Kupoi would have definitely been an impediment. Commander then inquired, ‘Major, do you wish to visit the high ground or the hospital?’ I confirmed the hospital location.

In half an hour, we entered Kailahun, which looked absolutely deserted, and Om Prakash drove us straight to our company location. The RUF checkpost outside our company stopped us, and there I saw Sister, who looked relieved on seeing me. I once again thanked God since now I had better chances of meeting Papa Giema through Sister, who inquired about my health. I requested if I could look up Papa Giema after meeting my company. She assured me of her best efforts.

Commander cautioned me to come back, since I was to walk down alone from that RUF checkpost. I started walking towards my company, which was about 200 metres ahead. Every step I took had the bounce of eagerness; I wanted to be confident that my boys were unharmed. They had seen me from a distance, and I heard a loud cheer, filled with gaiety, of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

In no time, everyone got together and embraced me in a huddle, with Subedar Fateh checking my hands physically to look for any traces of RUF torture. I can’t explain the euphoria I felt at meeting my men. I overheard Sepoy Vinod saying, ‘Saab, aap aa gaye hain, ab humein koi fikar nahin hai (Sir, now that you have come, we have nothing to worry about).’ That was when I shared the news with them that I would have to go back, and the boys unanimously echoed that they would not let me go.

I explained the entire situation to them and passed certain necessary security instructions. My final command to the company was, ‘No surrender come what may’. I spent another twenty minutes checking the bunkers and trenches prepared by the boys. I shared my observations and asked them to improve the overhead protection of bunkers against aerial attack; I also told the boys to lay some obstacles ahead of the bunkers to deter the RUF’s move.

Finally, after wishing good luck to each of them, I returned to the RUF checkpost, where Sister shared the news with me that Papa Giema was home.

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