Operation Khukri: India’s Daring UN Rescue Mission That’s Now Becoming a Movie

Operation Khukri: In the dense jungles of Sierra Leone, under monsoon skies and enemy fire, Indian soldiers rewrote the playbook on peacekeeping.

Twenty-five years ago, long before global headlines caught up with their heroics, Indian peacekeepers carried out one of the most audacious military rescues in United Nations history—Operation Khukri. Now, this riveting story of grit, strategy, and survival is set to reach a global audience through an upcoming film starring and directed by Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda.

A Nation in Turmoil

The year was 2000. Sierra Leone, a small West African nation, was engulfed in a brutal civil war. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF), infamous for its barbaric tactics and use of child soldiers, had plunged the country into chaos. As part of international efforts to restore order, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) deployed peacekeeping troops—including a significant contingent from India.

But what was meant to be a peacekeeping mission turned into a full-scale crisis.

The Hostage Standoff That Shook the UN

In a shocking act of aggression, the RUF captured 222 UN peacekeepers, including 11 military observers from various nations, holding them hostage for 233 days. Among the captured was an Indian company stationed in Kailahun, under the leadership of Major Rajpal Poonia. Lured into negotiations, Poonia was separated from his unit, which was quickly surrounded and ordered to surrender.

But surrender was not in the DNA of the Gorkha Rifles.

Starving, surrounded, and cut off from reinforcements, these soldiers chose to stand their ground, even as international diplomacy failed to secure their release.

India Plans a Bold Rescue

With diplomacy hitting a wall and global embarrassment looming large, India decided to act. The operation that followed would be etched in military annals forever.

Operation Khukri was the name of the top-secret rescue mission. A special team of 120 Indian commandos was assembled for the assault, supported by British Chinook helicopters for transport and logistical support. Every step of the plan was perilous—terrain, weather, firepower, and timing were all stacked against them.

Operation Khukri: The Breakout: July 15, 2000

Before dawn broke on July 15, 2000, the mission was in motion.

Explosives breached the garrison walls in Kailahun. At the same time, the trapped Gorkha soldiers launched a counterattack from inside, catching the RUF by surprise. What followed was a fierce and tactical firefight, one that would eventually punch a hole through the rebel blockade.

But the escape was just beginning.

Escape Under Fire

The terrain was unforgiving. Heavy rains had turned jungle roads into muddy death traps. As trucks sank in sludge and gunfire rained from behind, the soldiers pushed their vehicles through the muck, under fire, carrying the wounded and the sick with them.

They weren’t just saving themselves. The mission aimed to evacuate:

• The entire trapped Indian contingent
• 11 UN observers
• Multiple critically ill personnel

While Chinooks airlifted the most vulnerable, the rest of the force fought on foot, advancing 12 km through hostile terrain toward the village of Gehun, where fresh Indian reinforcements from the 18 Grenadiers were waiting.

The Final Push to Pendembu

The last hurdle was Pendembu, a key RUF stronghold. The Indian forces didn’t hesitate. After a short but intense firefight, they captured the rebel town, bringing the operation to a victorious close.

The Outcome: A Military Masterclass

Operation Khukri was a stunning success:

• All 233 hostages rescued
• 34 rebels killed
• 150 injured
• Only 7 Indian soldiers wounded
• Zero fatalities among peacekeepers

India had pulled off one of the most daring and effective rescue missions in the history of UN peacekeeping.

A Legacy Etched in Stone—and Now Celluloid

In recognition of the operation, the Sierra Leonean government erected the Khukri War Memorial on the banks of the Moa River—a rare foreign tribute to Indian military heroism.

Major Rajpal Poonia, who led the operation and later rose to become a Major General, documented this operation in his book:
“Operation Khukri: The True Story Behind the Indian Army’s Most Successful Mission as Part of the United Nations.”

Now, the story is being adapted for the big screen by none other than Randeep Hooda, making his directorial debut. The actor, known for his immersive roles, said:

“The story of Operation Khukri moved me deeply. It is about courage, sacrifice, and standing tall even when hope seems lost.”

The Film: A Forgotten Chapter Reborn

Touted as a gritty, patriotic war drama, the upcoming film aims to reignite national pride and global recognition for a mission that remained largely underreported. Hooda’s film, backed by an authentic script based on Poonia’s account, is expected to showcase:

• Tactical war sequences
• Brotherhood under fire
• A never-say-die military spirit

India’s Peacekeepers: Courage Without Borders

Operation Khukri is more than a military triumph. It’s a reminder of India’s unwavering commitment to global peacekeeping. As former Army Chief General JJ Singh once summed it up:

“Our soldiers chose death over cowardice, honour over two meals a day, and dignity over freedom.”

This story—once buried in footnotes—is finally getting the tribute it deserves. And it’s about time the world takes notice.