Khukri : Part 3

Day 2 : 16th July 2000

At 0700 hrs, a helipad was prepared at Pendembu.

At 0815, a steady stream of MI-8s started arriving to replace troops. Some were deinducted and some were flown in. This was completed by 1030 hrs

At 0930 hrs, RUF troops were reported moving towards Pendembu. An armed helicopter effectively engaged them. Thereafter, some RUF bunkers and the RUF Ammo dump were demolished by the Engineers.

After the last helicopter left, the column made the march towards Daru. One company was tasked with holding the north side of the town till the evacuation had been completed. A MI-35 was also pressed in to provide air cover at all times.

Ambush

The RUF were not willing to accept defeat that easily. The way back to Daru led through Kuiva, Bewabu and Mobai. RUF units set up roadblocks and ambush parties in these 3 locations. At Kuiva, 1400hrs, the troops came under fire by RPGs. The ambush was effectively neutralised by the firepower of the troops and the attack helicopter.

At 1430 hrs, the column was ambushed again at Bewabu. The RUF were firing from the high ground on either side of the road. The troops were in a killing zone. The Company Commander ordered a platoon to counter ambush the RUF. The firefight lasted 15 minutes which left many RUF dead wounded.

Meanwhile, another column 6MKs away was attacked by the RUF. The ammunition truck was hit by the RUF which exploded, but luckily only one soldier was wounded. He was airlifted out by a Chetak helicopter.

By now, the RUF were thoroughly demoralised. Not only had they been defeated by a numerically inferior force, they had lost a lot of men, weapons and ammunition.

At 1730hrs, the troops reached Daru. The greatest reward for the Indian Peacekeepers was the rapturous reception given to them by the people of Daru as they came triumphantly back from battle. It was a heartfelt welcome of a long suffering and desperate people who understood that there were people in this world who would shed their blood for them.

Epilogue :

Soon after this incident, the entire Indian contingent withdrew from Sierra Leone. The lack of support from other countries and the petty bickering of some countries about having to work under Indian troops had become too much. Leaked documents revealed that the Nigerian forces were colluding with the RUF for smuggling of blood diamonds and were even providing weapons to them.

Sierra Leone today.

Sierra Leone is a much safer place today than it was before the UNAMSIL stepped in. War crimes trials are leading to the imprisonment of some warlords. Blood diamonds - not the movie yaar - or conflict diamonds are the cause behind a lot of misery in Africa. But at the end of the day, this is a land far away from us, and invisible - so we don't care.

But the next time you buy that nice glittering diamond ear-ring for your special person, ask the jeweller if he can certify the diamond as being certified conflict free.... otherwise, be aware, that your purchase has meant the death of hundreds !!!