Military Affairs
Major General Rajpal Punia, YSM, has served for over thirty-five years in the Indian Army. As the orchestrator of Operation Khukri, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, West Africa, General Punia was awarded the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal by the President of India in 2002.Major General Rajpal Punia,YSM, born on 16 Apr 1964 at Sadulpur Rajasthan, an alumnus of NDA (National Defence Academy), the General Officer, was commissioned into 14 Mechanised Infantry (16 JAK RIF) on 09 Jun 1984. He has served with his battalion in OP VIJAY and OP PARAKRAM.
In his long military career, he has held a no of prestigious Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He has commanded his parent unit 14 Mechanised Infantry (16 JAK RIF) in HAA, Cdr 5 Mtn Bde and GOC 33 Armd Div. His staff assignment incl BM of 104 Inf Bde in HAA and CI Op area, Dir WE-15 B of IHQ of MoD (Army), Brig ‘Q’ of Corps and DDG Rtg (B), IHQ of MoD (Army). He has held the instructional appointments of Instr CI ‘A’ SAW (ACC&S) from May 02 to Mar 05 at Ahmednagar and DS,SC wing from May 07 to Jun 08 at Army War College.
The Officer has attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, Higher Defence Management Course at Hyderabad, Senior Command Course at College of Combat at Mhow, Senior Mission Leader Course in United Nations Peace keeping mission in Tokyo, Japan and the prestigious National Defence College Course in Thailand. The Gen Officer was awarded the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal during OP Khukri while commanding a Coy as a part of 5/8 Gorka Rifles in a United Nations peace keeping operation in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
OPERATION KHUKRI THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE INDIAN ARMY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL MISSION AS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS
1. ‘Operation Khukri is a fascinating and gripping account of one of the finest United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, undertaken in Sierra Leone, West Africa, during 2000. It is the story of 233 Indian Army officers and men, who were besieged for over three months without any replenishment and resupplies, encircled by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The RUF demanded the surrender of all UN peace keepers, including British and a Russian officer, but the troops of the Indian garrison at Kailahun, displaying “Nerves of steel and an indomitable sprit”, and refused to lay down their arms.
2. This is an inspiring true story based on the personal experience of an Indian Military peacekeeper in the deep jungles of Sierra Leone. It is about his involvement in winning the hearts and minds of the locals, negotiating peace and then leading a fighting break-out when his camp of 233 soldiers was surrounded, for over two months, by armed rebels.
